If repetition of the name David seems awkward, it can be replaced by the pronoun.

Every one with his household: this shows that each of the men (or, soldiers) who went with David was also able to take his family members along.

Dwelt: that is, “took up residence in” (Anchor Bible) or, as most modern versions put it, “settled in” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, and New Revised Standard Version as well as Good News Translation). Other languages may find it more natural to say something like “began to live in….”

The towns of Hebron: in verse 1 Hebron is said to be one of the “towns of Judah” (Revised Standard Version, “cities of Judah”). Here the same term is used, but it is unclear what is meant by the “towns of Hebron.” Many interpreters (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) take this to be a reference to the smaller villages surrounding the larger town of Hebron (compare, for example, Josh 15.32, 36, 41). But this is not the usual way that Hebrew expresses this idea. For this reason some scholars change the plural to a singular (“in the city of Hebron” [New English Bible]) or drop the word for “towns” completely and say simply “in Hebron” (Anchor Bible). According to Josh 15.54 Hebron was also named “Kiriath-arba,” which means “City-of-Four.” Perhaps the reference here is to these four cities that made up the city of Hebron. But probably the wisest course for translators is to follow the majority and say something like “the villages near Hebron.” It is possible that some of David’s men lived in Hebron with him while others lived in the surrounding towns, but the Hebrew seems to suggest that they did not live in Hebron.

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 .