Remember what he did with Abraham, and how he tested Isaac: The Abraham reference is surely to Gen 22. It is less clear what is meant by the testing of Isaac. Perhaps Gen 26 is meant.

What happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia in Syria: See Gen 29.1–31.55. Mesopotamia in Syria (actually “of Syria”) is a strange expression, but is used in the Greek Old Testament, often for Paddan-Aram (Gen 31.18). It is in the plain to the west of Syria but east of the Euphrates River; the region is in southern Turkey today. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version simplify to “Mesopotamia” since that is where biblical atlases and maps locate the region. “Northern Mesopotamia” would be better.

While he was keeping the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother: It will be good to identify Laban as Jacob’s uncle; for example, “while he was taking care of his uncle Laban’s sheep” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.