And when the servants of Hadadezer saw …: The servants of Hadadezer were subjects of Hadadezer, but people of such high status that they can not be referred to as “servants” in many cultures. They might be called “followers” or “supporters” of Hadadezer. International Children’s Bible says “officers.” A number of versions call them “vassals” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but this translation seems to harmonize the text with the parallel in 2 Sam 10.19, which refers to “the kings who were servants of Hadadezer.” Good News Translation and Bible en français courant both say “the kings who were subject to Hadadezer.” Once again the verb saw may be better understood if translated “realized” (Good News Translation), “became aware,” “knew,” or “understood.”
That they had been defeated by Israel: This passive expression can be easily transformed into an active form, and this should probably be done in many languages. One possible model that does this is “that the Israelites had defeated them.”
They made peace with David: The immediate context shows that this event involved accepting the terms of peace dictated by David’s victorious army. In some languages the proper expression here will be “they begged for peace with David,” “they sat in peace with David,” or “they gave up fighting David.”
And became subject to him means they lived under the rule and authority of David and his kingdom.
So the Syrians were not willing to help the Ammonites any more: So translates the common Hebrew conjunction. It introduces the result of the military victory by the people of Israel. This conjunction introduces a final note in the story of the Syrians’ relationship to Israel. Because of Israel’s victory, the Syrians were not willing to help the Ammonites any more. This sentence takes the reader back to verses 6 and 7, where the Ammonites hired Syrian troops to help them fight against Israel. The Hebrew verb translated were not willing indicates a conscious decision on the part of the Syrians. Any more is literally “again” (New Century Version, Revised English Bible). An alternative model for this whole clause is “The Syrians decided that they would never again help the Ammonites.”
Some editions of Good News Translation make the final sentence of this chapter verse 20. But the Hebrew, the Septuagint and the Vulgate, as well as virtually all translations other than Good News Translation, make it a part of verse 19 and have no verse 20. The Good News Translation error should not be repeated in other languages.
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 .