The text does not state why David sent for Uriah, but the reason becomes clear. In order to protect both himself and Bathsheba, David wants Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba so that people will think that Uriah is the father of the child.

So: once again this represents the common Hebrew conjunction, but in this case it introduces a further progression in the story and is best rendered as in Revised Standard Version or by the adverb “Then” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible), “So” (New International Version), or “Therefore” (New American Bible). While the New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh rendering, “Thereupon,” can hardly be considered common language, it does confirm the fact that something more than “and” is required in this context.

Sent word: if the statement that follows is translated as a direct quotation, these words may be rendered “sent this message….” But it is quite possible to make the following quotation indirect, and in many languages this will be more natural. If this is the case, the following model may be helpful for this part of the verse: “So David sent word to Joab that he should send Uriah the Hittite back to Jerusalem to appear at the palace” or “Therefore King David notified the general of his army that he wanted to see Uriah the Hittite.”

The verse concludes by saying that Joab obeyed his commander in chief. While this is again introduced by the common Hebrew conjunction, discourse considerations in most languages will require a different kind of transition word such as “So,” “Then,” or “Therefore.”

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 .