And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled: In those languages requiring an object for the verb “flee,” it will be best to talk of fleeing from Joab’s soldiers.

They likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered the city: Seeing that their allies, the Syrians, were forsaking the battle, the Ammonites also decided to abandon the struggle. So they went back inside the city walls for protection (see verse 9). Since Joab did not attempt to take the city, this was the end of the battle. Joab’s brother is literally “his brother.” The verb entered really means “reentered” (Bible en français courant) in this context and may be translated “withdrew” (Revised English Bible), “retreated” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation), or “went back.” Even though the Masoretic Text says the city, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says that the Ammonites “withdrew into their cities,” apparently because verse 7 says that Ammonites came from other cities to help fight against the Israelite army.

Then Joab came to Jerusalem: Then translates the common Hebrew conjunction. But it may be left untranslated in this context in some languages as Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has done. Since this was certainly not the first time that Joab and his men had come to Jerusalem, it will be more natural to translate came as “came back,” “went back” (Good News Translation, New Century Version), or “returned” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, Bible en français courant).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .