[2] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 1Q7 (1QSam; 50 BCE) with extant verses 9–12[3][4][5][6] and 4Q51 (4QSama; 100 ‑ 50 BCE) with extant verses 1–6, 14–16, 21–22, 38–39.

[3][4][7][8] There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC.

Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B;

Its editors note that "the text has suffered considerably and reconstructions are conjectural".

[1] The first part is about 'the Three' (the term used in LXX and Vulgate) with their names—Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah—and deeds (verses 8b–12, possibly until 17b).