2tn On the use of אִם (’im, “if”) here, see HALOT 60 s.v.

3tn Heb “and act from [i.e., so as to prevent] harm so that I might not be in pain.”

4tn Heb “and God brought about what he had asked.”

5tn Or “of the city of Nahash.”

6tc “Meonothai” is read here by some mss of the LXX, along with the Vulgate. The name apparently was dropped from the Hebrew text by haplography. Note that the name appears at the beginning of the next verse as well.

7tn Heb “the father of Ge Harashim, for they were craftsmen.” The name “Ge Harashim” means “valley of craftsmen.”

8tn Heb “and the sons of Elah and Kenaz.” Kenaz was actually the son of Elah.

9tn The Hebrew text has simply, “and she gave birth to,” without identifying the subject. The words “Mered’s wife Bithiah” are added in the translation for clarification. See v. 18b, which mentions “Bethiah, whom Mered married.”

10tn Heb “took,” referring to taking in marriage.

11tn Or “and the son of Zoheth” (NAB). The word בֶּן (ben) in Hebrew means “son [of].”

12tn Heb “and the words are old.”

13tn Heb “and those who lived in Netaim and Gederah; with the king in his work they lived there.”

14tc Some LXX mss read “Baalath” (cf. Josh 19:8). This is followed by some English versions (e.g., NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT).

15tn The words “their clan leaders were” are added in the translation for clarification. See v. 38a, which makes this clear.

16tn The Hebrew text reads “their tents,” apparently referring to those of the Hamites mentioned at the end of v. 40. Some prefer to emend the text to read, “the tents of Ham.”

17tn Heb “and they lived in place of them.”

18tn Heb “and struck down the remnant that had escaped belonging to Amalek.”