The Masoretic Text, which is not followed by either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation, reads “At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram and drove out the Judeans from Elath; and the Arameans came to Elath and they dwell there to this day.” According to the Masoretic Text, the Syrian army attacked both Jerusalem (verse 5) and the Edomite city of Elath and drove the people of Judah out of Elath. Then the Syrians came to live in Elath and continued to live there at the time this account was written.
Many scholars, however, correct the Masoretic Text by changing the references to Aram (Syria) and the Arameans (Syrians) to Edom and the Edomites (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet). Such a correction brings this verse into agreement with the statement in 2 Chr 28.17, which says that the Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah. Since the consonants in the Hebrew names for “Edom” and “Aram” are almost identical, scribes often confused the two names. If one would make this correction, then the entire verse would be parenthetical (so Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) since it would be talking about something that happened at the same time but in a different geographical location than verse 5. The story of King Ahaz would then resume in verse 7.
The king of Edom: As noted above, the Hebrew text at this point actually has “Rezin king of Aram” (New International Version, New Century Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is similar with “King Rezin of Aram.” The Hebrew text is also followed by Bible en français courant, which renders “Aram” as “Syria.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends “Rezin, king of Aram” with an {A} rating since the Masoretic Text as well as all the ancient versions agree on this reading. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament also recommends the Masoretic Text but does not give a rating since the suggested correction found in Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation and many other modern translations is not based on the manuscripts but is only a conjecture made by some scholars.
Recovered Elath for Edom: The Hebrew verb rendered recovered is interpreted by most English versions as meaning that the king took back control of the city of Elath over which he had previously held authority. Elath was, in fact, under the control of Judah, Syria and Edom at different times. According to Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, the Hebrew verb form here should be understood to mean “led to a new owner,” not “restored to a previous owner.”
For Elath see the comments at 2 Kgs 14.22.
In place of for Edom, which is the reading adopted by the majority of modern translations, some modern versions, following the Masoretic Text, have “for Aram” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, New Century Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). “For Aram” is also the recommendation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament since the Masoretic Text and all the ancient versions have this reading.
Drove the men of Judah from Elath: The men of Judah is literally “the Judeans.” Clearly the writer does not intend to imply that only the male members of the Judean community (the southern kingdom) were driven out of the city. Rather, it means that all of the usual inhabitants of the city, both male and female, were expelled. It will, therefore, be wise to translate “the people of Judah” (New Century Version) or “the Judeans” (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version).
The Edomites came to Elath: Instead of the Edomites, the Masoretic Text reads “the Arameans,” but a correction in the margin of the Masoretic Text reads “the Edomites,” and this is followed in Revised Standard Version. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament likewise recommends this correction in the margin of the Masoretic Text. Translators should follow the corrected text. The correct sense is not that the Syrians (or the Edomites) drove out the people of Judah so that the Syrians could live in this Edomite city. Rather, the Syrians (or the Edomites) drove out the people of Judah and restored control of the city to the Edomite people so that they could live there again.
To this day: See the comments on 1 Kgs 8.8 and 2 Kgs 2.22.
The recommended text for this verse is the one found in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which reads “At that time King Rezin of Aram recovered Elath for Aram; he drove out the Judites from Elath, and Edomites came to Elath and settled there, as is still the case” (similarly New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Nouvelle version Segond révisée, La Bible du Semeur, Nouvelle Bible Segond).
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 .