But translates the common Hebrew conjunction and probably provides a better transition than “so” (Good News Translation) since there seems to be a contrast between the behavior of Eleazar and the other Israelite soldiers who had run away. Many modern versions use “But/but” as the transition word here (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Holman Christian Standard Bible).

He took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: In the Masoretic Text the verbs rendered he took his stand, defended and slew are plural. The Septuagint has singular verbs, and the parallel text in 2 Sam 23.12 uses the singular, but refers to Shammah, not to Eleazar. Like Revised Standard Version, some other versions read the singular here (so Revised English Bible, New American Bible, La Bible Pléiade, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Reina-Valera revisada). But Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the plural verbs in the Masoretic Text, and the plural should be translated. Good News Translation understands the plural verbs as referring to Eleazar and his men (also Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). More likely, the reference is either to David, Eleazar and the rest of his mighty men or only to Eleazar and David (so New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version).

In the midst of the plot is in the middle of the barley field mentioned in the previous verse. If a translator follows the interpretation that only a part of the field was a barley field, then this phrase may be rendered “in the middle of the portion” (Klein).

And the LORD saved them by a great victory is literally “and the LORD delivered a great deliverance.” Revised Standard Version has added the pronoun them as English requires. The pronoun them refers not to the Philistines, but to David and his men. The whole clause may be rendered “The LORD gave Israel a great victory that day” (Contemporary English Version; similarly International Children’s Bible).

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 .