So: the transition word here should indicate that the next step in the story is being introduced. As in several other places, this transition is represented in Good News Translation by beginning a new paragraph. This is also the case in Revised English Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. New International Version has a new paragraph as well as the word “Then.”

The people who were with him: the word for people is often used of armies, and in the context of combat this phrase should be translated something like “the soldiers who were with him” (New American Bible), “the troops with him” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New International Version), or simply “his soldiers.”

Drew near to battle: that is, moved forward in preparation for the planned attack. Some will want to translate “approached to begin the fight” or “confronted [the Syrians].”

They fled: in most cases it will probably be a good idea to make clear which group ran away, since the plural pronoun may be misunderstood. Good News Translation does this by stating clearly “the Syrians fled.” One ancient Greek manuscript actually has the name rather than the pronoun here, but such a rendering is justified on grounds of translation principles rather than for textual reasons.

Before him: that is, before Joab and his army. It was certainly not Joab alone who caused them to run away. So it may be wise in some languages to make it clear that Joab and all his party were involved. In some languages it may be best to say simply “ran away,” leaving implicit the fact that it was Joab’s army that caused them to do so. And in other cases the plural pronoun will be more appropriate, “ran away from them.”

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 .