Regarding the two hundred men … who had been left at the brook Besor, see verses 9-10. Since David had left these men there, Good News Translation correctly says that he “went back.” Revised English Bible says that he “returned.”

The brook Besor: see the comments on verse 9.

The people who were with him: that is, the troops that had followed him. See the comments on verse 4 above.

He saluted them: see 10.4; 17.22; 25.5, where the same expression occurs. The word “salute” has very definite military connotations in English, but the meaning here is rather more general and should be translated “greeted.” Some versions depart from the Masoretic Text here, following the Septuagint. Klein, for example, says “As David approached with the troops, they greeted them,” following the Septuagint in making the subject of the verb plural.

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 .