The king has sent with him …: Since two kings are mentioned in the previous verse, it may be desirable to specify which one is intended by the king at the beginning of this verse. Since it is clearly David, some translators will say simply “King David.” Likewise, if the pronoun him is ambiguous when translated literally in certain languages, translators may need to say “King David has sent … with Solomon.”

As noted several times earlier in this chapter, Good News Translation omits the words the priest, the prophet, and the son of Jehoiada for reasons of English style.

The Cherethites and the Pelethites: See the comments on verse 38. The text does not say why David sent the Cherethites and the Pelethites, but this may need to be stated in translation since it is implicit information that they were royal bodyguards. Good News Translation says “the royal bodyguards to escort him,” and New Living Translation reads “protected by the king’s bodyguard.”

For the expression caused … to ride and the word mule, see the comments on verse 33.

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 .