Answered is literally “answered and said.” David’s reaction is, in a sense, a response to what Nathan had said to him, but he is not strictly giving an answer to him. For this reason several modern versions retain only the verb “said” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version).

Call Bathsheba to me: See the comments on verse 23. The sense is not that Bathsheba was standing somewhere in the room away from David. Good News Translation correctly says that she is “to come back in.” The Hebrew does not say that Nathan now leaves, but verse 32 implies that he left when Bathsheba returns.

The direct discourse may be translated indirectly as “King David requested that his servants call Bathsheba to return to him” or something similar.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .