It appears that certain events that occurred between verses 14 and 15 have been left implicit in Hebrew. Having been told that David was sick, the messengers returned to report that to Saul. Saul then orders them back to David’s house with instructions to bring David in his bed.

If readers will be confused by leaving this information implicit, it may be better to follow the model of New Century Version: “The men went and told Saul, but he sent them back to see David.” In any case, the verb sent should probably be rendered “sent back.”

Once again it will probably be more natural in some languages to make the direct quotation of this verse into indirect discourse. One possible model for the last part of this verse is to say:

• He [Saul] instructed them to bring David to him in the bed on which he lay so that he could kill him.

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 .