The direct quotation at the beginning of this verse may be made into indirect discourse if this seems more natural in the receptor language: “David instructed all his men to put on their swords.”

The verb gird/girded, which occurs three times in this verse, is rendered by the less archaic expression “strap/strapped on” in New Revised Standard Version.

After David: the preposition rendered after in Revised Standard Version may be understood to mean that the men went “behind” David as he led the way, or simply that they went “with” him.

Baggage: that is, the military supplies. The same word is translated “armor” in 17.54 and “weapons” in 20.40 and 21.8. Here it probably includes both. See the comments at 10.22.

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 .