Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah: According to the Masoretic Text of 1 Chr 2.24, Ashhur was the son of Hezron, but the Hebrew text of that verse is very difficult, and many translations correct the text of 2.24 on the basis of the Septuagint to say that Caleb, rather than Hezron, was the father of Asshur. Since 1 Chr 2.19 lists Hur as a son of Caleb, some interpreters think that Hur and Ashhur refer to the same person and that the name “Hur” is an abbreviated form of the longer name Ashhur. Others, however, think that Ashhur was a younger brother of Hur.

For the father of Tekoa, see the comments on 1 Chr 2.24. Tekoa was a town located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of Bethlehem, and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Jerusalem. It was the hometown of the prophet Amos. Since the father of Tekoa means Asshur founded this town, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, and Peregrino say “founder of Tekoa,” and Contemporary English Version has “who settled the town of Tekoa.”

The names of Asshur’s two wives Helah and Naarah are missing in the Syriac of this verse.

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 .