Then: this represents the common Hebrew conjunction and not the temporal adverb used twice in the previous verse. It is merely a transition marker, but in this context some may find it natural to translate it “So” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, New American Bible, and others), since what happens next is a result of the situation described in the two previous verses. New Jerusalem Bible makes the connection by beginning the verse with “At this….”

The three mighty men: this refers to the three men mentioned in verse 13.

Broke through the camp: both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation make it sound like a fierce battle took place in broad daylight. But it is more likely that it was a secret operation at night. Although this was a great risk to the three men who did it, there was probably no overt fighting. For this reason New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses the verb “got through,” and Anchor Bible translates “infiltrated the Philistine camp.” Contemporary English Version uses more common language, “sneaked into … the camp.” And Revised English Bible has a somewhat more neutral rendering, “made their way through the Philistine lines….”

It will be unwise in some languages to imitate Revised Standard Version in the use of the two verbs took and brought when a single verb will serve the same purpose.

Poured it out to the LORD: the vocabulary used here is that of a “drink-offering” (as in Gen 35.14 and Lev 23.13). Although David wanted very much to drink the water, he offered it to the LORD as a sacrifice. New Jerusalem Bible says “poured it out as a libation to Yahweh.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente specifies that he poured it out “on the ground.”

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 .