So: the common Hebrew conjunction is rightly translated to show the logical relationship between the events described in the previous verses and the action taken by the people of Ashdod.
The verb sent has no object in Hebrew, but the clear implication is that runners or messengers were sent to call together the Philistine leaders.
All the lords of the Philistines: the Philistines lived mostly in five independent cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron, which are listed in 6.17. Each city was ruled by a “lord,” that is, someone who ruled with the authority of a king. An American Translation correctly calls these lords “the city rulers of the Philistines,” and Knox speaks of “Philistine chiefs.”
Because a question follows, the verb said may be better rendered “asked.”
Gath was one of the five main cities of the Philistines (see the comments on verse 1). It was about twenty kilometers (twelve and one-half miles) southeast of Ashdod (verse 1) and was the closest of these cities to the territory of Judah. Gath is mentioned also in 6.17; 7.14; 17.4, 23, 52; 21.10, 12; 27.2-4, 11. Good News Translation shows one way to indicate in translation that Gath, in addition to Ashdod, was a Philistine city: “so they took it to Gath, another Philistine city.”
They answered, “Let the ark….” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there: New Revised Standard Version (also New American Bible) follows the Septuagint and a manuscript from Qumran and says “The inhabitants of Gath replied, ‘Let the ark of God be moved on to us.’ So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. But even if the traditional text is followed, translators must have some idea as to the identity of the people referred to by the pronoun they (the Hebrew has only a third person plural verb). Is it a vague term that refers only to unidentified members of the group, or does it perhaps refer to the inhabitants of Gath (regardless of the textual decision made)? Probably it is better to take it in the more general sense and say “Some of the people” or “Some other people.”
The passive construction Let the ark … be brought may be restated actively by saying something like “Take the ark,” or “Cause some people to take the ark,” or possibly “We will send the ark.”
They brought the ark … there: since the writer of this story was most likely not in Gath, the correct English verb of motion is “they took” it to Gath rather than they brought. Translators will need to use a verb which does not suggest that the writer is in Gath.
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 .