That David went out and was successful must be understood in the context as referring to military exploits. Bible en français courant is a good model: “Every time that Saul sent him on a military expedition, David had success.” See also New Century Version, “Saul sent David to fight in different battles. And David was very successful.” See also comments on verse 14.

So that translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which here relates David’s success and his appointment over other soldiers. It is therefore not incorrect to translate as in New Revised Standard Version, “as a result….”

The people and … Saul’s servants: the people refers to the lower-ranking “troops,” while the servants were higher-ranking officers. On the latter see the comments on 8.14.

The structure of the last part of this verse may have to be radically altered in some languages to make the military officers and foot soldiers the subject of the sentence: “the troops and even all the officers were very happy about this.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .