Ahithophel was the king’s counselor: Since some versions identify Jonathan as one of the king’s counselors in the previous verse, those same versions add the word “also” or “another” here. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, for example, has “Another counselor of the king was Ahithophel” (similarly Nueva Versión Internacional), and Bible en français courant says “Ahithophel was also a counselor to the king.” Regarding Ahithophel, see 2 Sam 16.23; 17.23.
And Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend: Regarding Hushai, see 2 Sam 15.32-37; 17.5-16. Most readers will not know what the Archite means, so a literal translation may have little or no meaning. The Septuagint understood this term to mean “the first [friend of the king].” But no modern version follows this interpretation. According to Josh 16.2, the Archites lived between Bethel and Ataroth, which were towns in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, so they may been a clan of this tribe. New Century Version says “from the Arkite people.” God’s Word has “a descendant of Archi,” which may express the correct meaning; but a translation such as that in New Century Version is preferable since there is no way to know if there was ever an ancestor named “Archi.”
The king’s friend is literally “friend of the king” (see 2 Sam 15.37; 1 Kgs 4.5). Almost certainly the Hebrew word translated friend is a technical term in this context borrowed from Egyptian court titles and refers to a court official who served as the king’s confidential adviser. Evidence for such a title is found in ancient documents from Egypt and Ugarit. For this reason the king’s friend is better rendered “private counselor of the king” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), “the king’s confidant” (New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy; similarly La Bible du Semeur), “the king’s confidential adviser” (Moffatt), or “the king’s friend and confidant” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible uses the word “friend” in the text but states in a footnote that this term “has a technical sense here; it is the title given to a confidant or counselor of the king.” If translators choose to keep the word “friend” in the text, then they should consider explaining the meaning in a footnote, as Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has done. Revised English Bible takes a different approach, indicating that this is a title by capitalizing it: “the king’s Friend.” But translators should not rely on use of footnotes or capital letters to convey the meaning of this word. It will be best to follow the examples of Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and state the meaning clearly in the text.
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 .