Then: the common conjunction here may be adequately translated by simply beginning a new paragraph as in Good News Translation and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. If a paragraph break is not made, a transition word like Then will probably be necessary (see New Jerusalem Bible).

Amasa was last mentioned in 19.13, where David indicated his intention to make Amasa the commander of his army in place of Joab. Since Amasa is now mentioned for the first time in a new section, it may be helpful to say something like “the king said to Amasa, the commander of his army…” or “… to Amasa, the new commander of his army….”

The verb Call … together may be rendered “summon” (New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, and others), “assemble,” or “gather.” Other languages may use a causative form of a verb meaning “come together.”

Within three days: literally “three of days.” Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch attempt to render this expression in common language by saying “the day after tomorrow.” But it is also quite natural to say “three days from now…” to show the time limit given for the assembling of the troops. In Hebrew reckoning of time, the current day counted as the first day, the next day was the second day, and the day after tomorrow was the third day.

Contemporary English Version restructures the quotation rather radically but conveys the meaning well with “Three days from now I want you and all of Judah’s army to be here.”

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 .