As in verse 12, this verse begins with the Hebrew verbal transition meaning “And it happened.” Good News Translation ignores this detail, but many versions represent it by beginning a new paragraph here (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

In the spring: See the comments on this phrase in verse 22.

For the Hebrew verb rendered mustered here and in verse 27, see the comments on verse 15. This verb is different from the Hebrew verb rendered “muster” in verse 25.

The Syrians is literally “Aram” (see the comments on the collective use of this noun in verse 20). In some languages it may be more natural to render the Syrians as “his men” (Good News Translation) or “his army” (Contemporary English Version).

The Hebrew verb rendered went up is third person singular; the subject is Benhadad. But the king is marching with his army, so the underlying meaning is plural in spite of the form of the original text. Further, the verb has a military meaning in this context and may be translated “marched” (New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt) or “advanced” (Revised English Bible).

Aphek is mentioned eight times in the Old Testament and refers to at least four different cities. The reference here and in 2 Kgs 13.17 is not to the city located on the coastal plain near Philistine territory as in 1 Sam 4.1 and 29.1. This city of Aphek is located in Syria, although its exact location is uncertain. Since many readers today will not know that Aphek is a city, this information may be made explicit (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

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 .