So: the connection here may be either logical or temporal, but it clearly leads to the next step in the story.

After him: literally “at his feet.” This phrase, combined with the verb went forth, leads some interpreters to feel that this verse shows David leaving Jerusalem on foot. New Jerusalem Bible, for example, indicates that David “set out on foot,” and Fox has “The king and all his household went off on foot.” Knox, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and Bible en français courant translate the same basic meaning. However, others take the words as in Revised Standard Version to mean that the rest of his family and court officials simply followed him. Anchor Bible translates this meaning and attempts to retain something of the form, “with all his servants at his heels.” This meaning seems a bit more likely, although that of New Jerusalem Bible is certainly not impossible.

All his household: this expression refers to the entire family and supporters of David, with the exception of those mentioned in the next sentence as having been left behind to look after the palace.

Concubines: as in 3.7 and 5.13, this term refers to wives of King David who had a kind of second-class status.

To keep the house: that is, to take care of the palace and possessions that were left behind.

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 .