So: the common conjunction is rightly taken as a logical connector showing that Saul’s sending David away was a direct result of his fear of David. Revised English Bible has “Therefore,” and New American Bible has “Accordingly.”

The context suggests that Saul sent David into battle in the hope that David would be killed (see verse 17). David himself later uses the same tactic to get rid of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11.14-17).

He went out and came in: the antecedent of the pronoun he may be ambiguous in some languages. David, at the head of the army, went out into battle and came in, that is, he returned victoriously. New Revised Standard Version correctly translates “David marched out and came in, leading the army.” See also verse 16 and 29.6, where the same kind of expression is used.

Before the people: this does not mean that he was parading in front of the people of Israel, but rather that he was leading the troops of Israel. It refers specifically to David’s leading the soldiers. Such is the interpretation in various translations: “to march at the head of the troops” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh); “David led his men into action” (Revised English Bible); “So David led the people on their military expeditions” (New American Bible); and “David left and came back at the head of the people” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

It is possible, however, that before the people refers to all the people, not just the soldiers (see verse 16 below). If this is the meaning, then one may say that “he led his troops into battle and returned victoriously to his people.”

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 .