They: the pronoun here refers to Joab and his soldiers. It may be wise to make this clear in translation as Good News Translation has done.

The tomb of his father: in many languages the word tomb presents difficulties for translators. In this context it is possible to say simply “the place where his father was buried.”

Bethlehem: See 1 Sam 16.4 (also Ruth 1.1and elsewhere.)

Marched: literally “walked.” The English word marched is a technical military term referring to the rhythmic step of foot soldiers moving together. But this word is also used more loosely to refer to the movement of troops on foot without any notion of walking in rhythmic step or in step to drums or other kinds of music. Many English translations say “marched” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation). If such a technical term exists in other languages, it may be used here.

Day broke upon them: this idiom indicates that the sun rose when they got to Hebron (see verse 3). In some cases it will be more natural to say something like “when they got back to Hebron the sun was rising.”

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 .