This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
David and his soldiers are referred to by the part of their bodies used to hold a sword. This can be stated in active form. AT: "David and his soldiers killed the descendants of the Rephaim" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])