But: the transition word here shows that what happened is contrary to expectation. Although he had been given permission and was even encouraged to go home to be with his wife, he refused to do so. A contrasting conjunction like But or “However” (New Jerusalem Bible) will probably be required in most other languages.

The door of the king’s house: this was probably some sort of guard room in the outer court of the royal palace. Compare 1 Kgs 14.27-28.

The servants of his lord: the words his lord refer to King David and should probably be translated “the king” in most languages. The servants in this case are very likely the palace guards. The word all was perhaps not a part of the original text and may therefore be omitted in translation. Although this textual problem is not mentioned in Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, the word is omitted by New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, Anchor Bible, and Anderson as well as by Good News Translation. New American Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh have simply “the other officers.”

Good News Translation restructures this verse so that the part indicating that Uriah did not go down to his house is placed at the beginning of the verse. This may be a helpful model in some other languages.

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 .