But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel: The common Hebrew conjunction here may be translated But, since it marks a turning point in the story and what follows may be seen as somewhat contrary to the expectations of the reader or hearer. Others may prefer to leave this conjunction untranslated (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Century Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). As in several previous verses, the verb saw may be rendered “realized” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation) or “noticed” (Bible en français courant) since the emphasis is not on physical sight. The passive expression they had been defeated by Israel may be made active by saying “Israel had defeated them” (New Century Version) or “they had lost to the Israelites.” Translators may render this temporal clause as an independent sentence; for example, International Children’s Bible says “The Arameans saw that Israel had defeated them” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).
They sent messengers and brought out Syrians …: The purpose of sending messengers was to call for reinforcement of the Syrian army that had been defeated by the Israelites. Sent messengers and brought out may be rendered “sent messengers to summon” (Revised English Bible) or “sent messengers to get.” Since the people who sent the messengers and the reinforcement troops sought were both Syrians, several versions add the word “other” when speaking of the second group (so New Century Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible). New Living Translation speaks of “additional … troops,” while Bible en français courant uses the word “compatriots.”
Who were beyond the Euphrates: As indicated in literal translations such as King James Version, New King James Version , New American Standard Bible and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, the Hebrew text does not actually have the proper name Euphrates. It says only “the river.” Some interpreters think the reference is to either the Jordan River or the Yarmuk River in northern Transjordan, but the reference is almost certainly to the Euphrates River. New King James Version and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible capitalize the word “River” to indicate a specific river, but this is not much help to the reader and no help to the person who only hears the text read. Most modern versions include the proper name. This should probably also be done in other languages since it is unlikely that modern readers or hearers would automatically think of the Euphrates when they hear “the river” as the original readers probably did. The word beyond refers to the east side of the Euphrates from the point of view of a person located in Israel. This should be made clear in translation as in Good News Translation or New Century Version if “the other side” might be misunderstood or meaningless in the receptor language.
With Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head: In the parallel text of 2 Sam 10.16 the name Shophach is spelled “Shobach.” Since this is a variant form of the same name, certain versions harmonize the spelling, putting “Shobach” here and in verse 18 (so Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Parole de Vie). For Hadadezer see the comments on 1 Chr 18.3. At their head is literally “before them” (King James Version). In some languages a better rendering may be “as their commander” or “as their leader.” A verbal expression may also be used, such as “was leading them” or “was in charge of them.”
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 .