2tn Heb “and arise, go.”

3tc The Syriac Peshitta includes the following words: “So Saul arose and went out. He took with him one of the boys and went out to look for his father’s donkeys.”

4tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

5tn The infinitive absolute precedes the verb for emphasis.

6tn Heb “our way on which we have gone.”

7tn Heb “look.”

8sn A quarter shekel of silver would weigh about a tenth of an ounce (about 3 grams).

9tn Heb “our way.”

10tn Heb “your word is good.”

11tc The MT has “him” (אֹתוֹ, ’oto) here, in addition to the “him” at the end of the verse. The ancient versions attest to only one occurrence of the pronoun, although it is possible that this is due to translation technique rather than to their having a Hebrew text with the pronoun used only once. The present translation assumes textual duplication in the MT and does not attempt to represent the pronoun twice. However, for a defense of the MT here, with the suggested translation “for him just now – you will find him,” see S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 72-73.

12tn Heb “to meet them.” This may indicate purpose on Samuel’s part. The next sentence indicates that the meeting was by design, not just an accident.

13tn Heb “uncovered the ear of.”

14tn Heb “anoint.”

15tn Heb “responded.”

16tn Heb “all that is in your heart.”

17tn Heb “do not fix your heart.”

18tn Heb “and all the house of your father.”

19tn Heb “took and brought.”

20tn Heb “he” (also in v. 25); the referent (Samuel) has been specified in both places in the translation for clarity.

21tc This statement is absent in the LXX (with the exception of Origen), an Old Latin ms, and the Syriac Peshitta.

22tn The words “Samuel then said” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.