Now therefore: more literally “And now.” But there is certainly a logical connection between what Joab has just said and his admonition to David in this verse.
Arise, go: used in series with a second verb as in this case, the verb arise does not necessarily imply getting up from a sitting or prone position. It emphasizes that the person should immediately begin the action of the second verb. Revised English Bible attempts to show this emphasis with “at once.” See the comments on this use of the verb arise in the introduction, “Translating the Books of Samuel,” page 20.
Speak kindly to: literally “speak to the heart of” (so Fox). This is translated by the verb “reassure” in Moffatt and New Jerusalem Bible as well as Good News Translation. Revised English Bible has rendered it “give … some encouragement,” and Contemporary English Version says “thank them for what they did.” The same expression is used in Gen 50.21; Isa 40.2.
Your servants: that is, “your troops,” the people who had fought in the battle against Absalom’s rebellious forces. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates “your followers,” while New Jerusalem Bible has “your soldiers.”
I swear by the LORD: this is a way of emphasizing the solemnity of what is about to be said. In some languages it may be better to leave this to the very end of the statement.
Not a man will stay with you: Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente expresses the meaning positively and clearly, although somewhat less emphatically, with “they will abandon you.” The soldiers will immediately cease to be loyal to David if he does not reassure them. In order to retain the emphasis of the original, translators may consider this model: “[before dark] every one of your soldiers will desert you.”
All the evil that has come upon you: or “all the bad things that have ever happened to you.” The misfortunes of David’s life up to this point included the death of his child by Bathsheba (12.15-23), the rape of his daughter Tamar by his son Amnon (13.1-21) and vengeful murder of Amnon by Absalom’s men (13.23-38), and the rebellion and death of Absalom (chapters 15–18). Joab had been closely involved in all these matters, but he was now warning David that things would be much worse if he failed to encourage the troops that had made him victorious over the rebels in his kingdom.
From your youth until now: there may be many different ways of expressing the idea contained in these words. Some English renderings are “in all your life” (Good News Translation) and “since your earliest days” (Revised English Bible). Contemporary English Version restructures the last part of this verse as “You may have had a lot of troubles in the past, but this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you!”
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 .