So: it was because of David’s command that Amasa began to act. For this reason a transition word like So may be appropriate in many languages. But in others no special transition marker will be required. It will be sufficient merely to chain the two actions together.

Went to summon: in Hebrew the verb translated summon is the same as “call … together” in the previous verse. Since the action was not completed, some translators may prefer to say “began to assemble…” or “started bringing the army together” (Contemporary English Version).

The name Judah is replaced by the pronoun “them” in Good News Translation, since it refers to all the fighting men of the tribe of Judah mentioned in verse 4. Some versions substitute “the army” (Contemporary English Version).

Delayed beyond the set time which had been appointed him: the words which had been appointed him are more literally “which he had appointed him.” In some languages the most natural way to communicate the meaning here is to repeat the specific time limit given by David and say something like “he took longer than the three days that the king had given him.” In languages where passive forms are impossible or unnatural, this will certainly be a possibility.

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 .