The transition word But translates the common Hebrew conjunction. In some languages it may be unnatural to use a conjunction marking contrast as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (and several other versions) since the logical expectation of the reader will be that those escaping would be pursued. It may be better to leave the transition word untranslated as in Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Revised English Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible.

In order to make certain that the readers know which king is intended here, the king is translated “King Zedekiah” in Good News Translation and New Century Version.

Overtook him: While overtook is a correct literal rendering of the Hebrew verb here, the context indicates that the Babylonian soldiers not only caught up with Zedekiah, but they also actually seized him (verse 6). In some languages it will be more natural to introduce this information here.

In the plains of Jericho: The Hebrew term rendered plains here is the plural form of the word transliterated “Arabah” in the previous verse.

All his army was scattered from him: This passive construction may be made active quite easily by saying something like “all his army deserted him” or “His men all forsook him and scattered” (Revised English Bible).

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