The words all the people again refer to the military force of David and may therefore be translated “all the troops” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

From Baale-judah: so reads the standard Hebrew text. The text may be interpreted to mean “from the leaders of Judah,” since the word baʿal can mean “master.” Or the whole expression may be taken as a place name as in Revised Standard Version. However, one very old Hebrew manuscript has a different preposition, making it read “to Baalah of Judah” (compare also the parallel in 1 Chr 13.6). This seems to be the correct reading, although New Revised Standard Version and New International Version also have “from.” Baalah was the old name for the city elsewhere called Kiriath-jearim (see Josh 15.9).

The ark of God: this is the first mention of the ark in 2 Samuel, although it is found often in 1 Samuel (3.3 and frequently in chapters 4–7). See 1 Sam 3.3 and the description given in the comments. The presence of Yahweh was thought to be closely tied to this box.

Which is called by the name: the word for name is actually found twice in the original Hebrew, but most scholars agree that this was an accidental repetition by someone copying the Hebrew text. New International Version, however, reflects this with “the Name, the name…” (compare also New American Standard Bible, “the Name, the very name…”). The whole phrase seems to mean “bore the name of Yahweh written on it” (Revised English Bible and Jerusalem Bible as well as Good News Translation), or possibly that the divine Name was spoken over it on certain occasions (Anchor Bible). Contemporary English Version translates “and he is worshiped there.”

The LORD of hosts: see 1 Sam 1.3.

On the cherubim: two golden statues of these winged beings were on top of the Covenant Box and somehow served as the throne of God, perhaps with the wings forming the throne (see Exo 25.22). On the translation of this important term, see 1 Sam 4.4. Compare also Gen 3.24 and Exo 25.18.

While this verse is a continuation of the sentence started in the previous one in Good News Translation, it may be rendered as a separate sentence in languages where shorter sentences are more natural. New Century Version provides a four-sentence model that may be helpful insofar as structure is concerned:

• Then David and all his people went to Baalah in Judah. They took the Holy Box of God from Baalah in Judah and moved it to Jerusalem. The Holy Box is called by the Name, the name of the LORD of heaven’s armies. His throne is upon the gold creatures with wings that are on the Holy Box.

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 .