Example from the book of Samuel

10.5. Example from the book of Samuel
One example from 1 Samuel 1 is used to illustrate the issue of textual differences.
1:5. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah.
The problem in this verse lies in the word that the NET and many other translations translated by ‘double’. It is the Hebrew word appāyȋm, with Strong’s number H639. The number of Appāyȋm is dual. Dual is often used to refer to things that come in natural pairs, such as ‘two hands’. Appāyȋm is often translated as ‘face’. This is seen in the expression ‘face down to the ground’ (cf. Gen. 19:1; 42:6; 1 Sam. 24:9; 1 Sam. 25:41; 1 Sam. 28:14 etc.). A literal translation, that takes the dual number of the word into consideration, would be ‘two faces’.
Keil and Delitzsch translated the phrase as follows: ‘one portion for two persons’. They took the literal meaning of the word, ‘two faces’, to mean ‘two persons’. Their translation is substantiated by detailed notes in their commentary.
A third option is the translation found in the LXX. It reads:
And to Anna he gave a prime portion, because she had no child, only Helkana loved Anna more than the other; but the Lord had closed her womb.
It translated ‘a prime portion’ instead of ‘a double portion’. What should you do in a case like this? It is important to consult scholarly discussions on the matter. You will realise that this issue does not affect any major doctrine of the Christian faith. You should therefore not make a big problem of it. You do not want to preach a sermon on how to translate appāyȋm in 1 Samuel 1:5. I recommend a careful study of the notes in the NET and Keil and Delitzsch. Here are the notes in the NET, supporting ‘a double portion’.
The exact sense of the Hebrew word (appāyȋm, “two faces”) is not certain here. It is most likely used with the preceding expression (“one portion of two faces”) to mean a portion double than normally received. Although evidence for this use of the word derives primarily from Aramaic rather than from Hebrew usage, it provides an understanding that fits the context here better than other suggestions for the word do. The meaning “double” is therefore adopted in the present translation. Other possibilities for the meaning of the word include the following: “heavily” (cf. Vulg., tristis) and “worthy” or “choice” (cf. KJV and Targum). Some scholars have followed the LXX here, emending the word to ’efes and translating it as “but” or “however.” This seems unnecessary. The translators of the LXX may simply have been struggling to make sense of the word rather than following a Hebrew text that was different from the MT here. The NET is very careful. The translators defend their own translation, but also indicate the different translation options. This is the best way to handle the holy text.