[6] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q52 (4QSamb; 250 BCE) with extant verses 1–11.

[7][8][9][10] Extant ancient manuscripts of a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (originally was made in the last few centuries BCE) include Codex Vaticanus (B;

[5] Although David was handsome (verse 12), it is emphasized that God does not look on the 'outward appearance', as it was precisely for that reason that Eliab, who was as tall as Saul, was rejected.

David was brought in because of his skill in playing music (verse 18), but inside the court he had palace training that would be useful for his future.

[14] Verse 21 even states that 'Saul loved him' ('Saul' was explicitly mentioned in the Greek Septuagint, instead of ambiguous subject in Masoretic Text), which later turned to a love-hate relationship between the two.