Answered the priest: literally “answered the priest and said to him.”
Of a truth: this Revised Standard Version rendering does not translate the same expression translated in this way in Josh 7.20, 1 Kgs 19.17, and Job 34.12. But the combination of the conjunction plus hypothetical particle seems to be used to introduce something, the truth of which the speaker wishes to assure the hearer. Both New Revised Standard Version and New American Bible begin the quotation with the word “indeed.” Some other possible translations are “certainly” (Revised English Bible, Fox), “of course” (Klein), and “I assure you” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
Women have been kept from us: it is not that the men have had no social contact with women, but specifically that they have had no sexual relations with them (see verse 4). This sense is more clearly expressed in Revised English Bible (“women have been denied us”) and New Jerusalem Bible (“have been forbidden to us”; so also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). In languages where such passive formulations are impossible or unnatural, the Good News Translation model may prove helpful.
As always: literally “as yesterday and the day-before-yesterday” (see 14.21; 19.7, where this idiom is translated in Revised Standard Version as “before that time” and “as before”).
When I go on an expedition: literally “when I go out.” The context provides the reason for specifying the nature of the going out as a “campaign” (Revised English Bible) or “journey” (New American Bible). Instead of the singular pronoun I, some languages may require the plural “we,” since it is clearly implied that David would be accompanied by his men.
The vessels of the young men are holy: the Hebrew word vessels is used for a wide variety of objects, from articles used for eating and drinking, to musical instruments, weapons, and household objects. It is uncertain whether the word here refers to the body or more specifically to the penis. La Bible Pléiade says “the genitals of the young men are in a state of holiness.” Some translations use the general word “vessels” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Fox), which is strange-sounding English. While most readers would probably understand this as a euphemism for the penis because of the context, it is not a normal English euphemism. New Jerusalem Bible says “the men’s things,” which is ambiguous but which would probably be understood as a euphemism in the context. Better models are Revised English Bible (“the young men’s bodies have remained holy”) and New American Bible (“all the young men are consecrated”). It is also possible, though not likely in light of the preceding verse, that the Hebrew word here refers to the “equipment” (La Bible du Semeur) or “weapons” (Bible en français courant) that the men were carrying with them.
The Septuagint and a Hebrew manuscript from Qumran say “all the young men are holy.” The word the vessels of and “all” are very similar in Hebrew. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text and suggests that vessels is a euphemism for the penis.
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 .