Ordered …: literally “ordered … saying.” In view of the fact that this order was probably heard by thousands of soldiers and intended for all, it may be better to translate the verb here as “shouted” or something similar. Contemporary English Version has “Then in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, he said,” which actually translates the meaning of the last sentence in this verse as well as the verb here.

Deal gently: there is actually no verb here in the Hebrew. And the meaning of what is probably a prepositional phrase, which is more literally “with gentleness,” is debated. It is translated “softly” in the story of Jael (Judges 4.21). Some scholars claim that the word comes from a verb meaning “cover” or “veil,” and that the meaning is “to protect from harm.” Anchor Bible has “Protect young Abishalom for me.” Knox translates “spare me my son….” And Contemporary English Version says “be sure that Absalom comes back unharmed.”

For my sake: literally “for me.” David was asking his commanders to do something that was not normal in a battle situation, but to do so because of him. The idea of doing something “for the sake of” someone else is found in the story of Sodom (Gen 18) and in the treatment of Mephibosheth in 2 Sam 9.1, 7.

The young man Absalom: this expression shows a certain amount of tenderness and concern for the rebel leader. The same expression was used in 14.21 and occurs again in this chapter at verses 12, 29, and 32 in quotations from the lips of David.

All the people: that is, all the fighting men who were going out to battle. The impression is that the troops had probably passed through the city gate and were assembled on the outside of the town when David gave his final orders to the three commanders in their hearing.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .