[6] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q51 (4QSama; 100–50 BCE) with extant verses 3–4, 9–10, 12.

[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;

[13] The historical setting suggests the tenth century BCE as the composition date of this narrative, with the main argument that 'an account of the previous misfortunes of the ark would be unnecessary and irrelevant once David was on his way to be king in Jerusalem'.

[13] The importance of the ark in Israel's battles is known from several passages such as Numbers 10:35–36 and 2 Samuel 11:11, being a visible sign of God's presence.

[13] The loss of Israel and the capture of the ark by the Philistines was attributed in verse 11 (recalling 1 Samuel 2:34) to 'the degenerate priesthood of Shiloh'.