Ben-hadad the king of Syria: The name Ben-hadad refers to at least two different Syrian kings in the Old Testament (see the comments on 1 Kgs 15.18). Benhadad I, a son of Tabrimmon, was king early in the ninth century B.C. and is referred to in 1 Kgs 15.16-22 and in the parallel text in 2 Chr 16.1-6. Benhadad II, son of Hazael, ruled later, at the end of the ninth century during the reign of King Joash of Judah. He is mentioned in 2 Kgs 13.3-7, 22-25.

Some interpreters consider the Ben-hadad of 1 Kgs 20, 22 and 2 Kgs 6–8 to be Benhadad I. Others consider him to be a third king who reigned between Benhadad I and Benhadad II. Many interpreters today, however, think that the reference here is to Benhadad II, but that the stories about his reign have been incorrectly placed in the reign of Ahab and his sons Ahaziah and Joram.

New Jerusalem Bible has a footnote stating that the reference is to Benhadad II. Since there is uncertainty, translators may wish to use a footnote and state that it is not known whether this refers to Benhadad I, mentioned in chapter 15, or to Benhadad II, mentioned in 2 Kgs 13.

The word translated Syria is literally “Aram” (so New Revised Standard Version, New International Version). See the comments on 1 Kgs 10.29 and 11.25.

The thirty-two kings who were with Benhadad were not equal in power with him but were subordinate to him, as verse 24 makes clear. They were “vassal-kings” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) or “territorial chieftains allied with him” (De Vries, page 248). A translation such as the one in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is recommended here (also in verse 12) in order to make clear the relationship of these thirty-two kings to the king of Syria. If no technical term such as “vassal-kings” exists in the receptor language, then this may be expressed as “thirty-two lesser kings” or “thirty-two kings who were under the Syrian king.” New Living Translation calls them “thirty-two allied kings.”

For chariots see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.5-6.

He went up: The movement from Syria to Samaria involved an increase in elevation, but this is only incidental to the story. For this reason some modern versions omit any reference to upward movement in the verb phrase went up; for example, New Revised Standard Version says “marched against,” Contemporary English Version “marched to,” and New Jerusalem Bible “marched on.”

Besieged: See the comments on 1 Kgs 8.37 and 15.27.

Samaria was the capital of the kingdom of Israel (see the introductory comments on 1 Kgs 16.21-28). While Bible en français courant makes it explicit that Samaria was a “city,” translators may wish to be more explicit in the receptor language. Compare New Living Translation “Samaria, the Israelite capital.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .