When it was told King Solomon: In Hebrew it is not stated who told Solomon about Joab. This passive expression may be rendered in some languages as “When they told King Solomon” or “When King Solomon learned.”

Behold: Good News Translation does not translate this Hebrew focusing particle.

Solomon sent Benaiah …: Revised Standard Version follows the Masoretic Text here, while Good News Translation follows the longer text of the Septuagint, which says “Solomon sent to Joab saying, ‘What is the matter with you that you have fled to the altar?’ And Joab said, ‘Because I was afraid from your face, and I fled to the Lord.’ And Solomon the king sent Benaiah….” Good News Translation has turned the direct discourse of the Septuagint into indirect discourse. A number of other translations also follow the Septuagint (Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, De Vries). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the longer reading of the Septuagint. Probably a scribe accidentally omitted words between the two occurrences of “Solomon sent.”

Strike him down: See the comments on the verb here in verse 25.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .