The name Tiglath-pileser refers to the same ruler as the one named “Pul” in verse 19 (see the comments there). So the same name should probably be used in both cases. Otherwise, an explanatory footnote will be required to inform the reader that the same person is intended.

Good News Translation omits the verb came, leaving it implicit. But the sense of this verse may be expressed more clearly as “came into Israel” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), “marched into Israel” (Contemporary English Version), or “invaded the country” (Nueva Versión Internacional).

Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali: These geographical names in the verse may present a problem to some translators. Readers should be made aware that the first five names are towns and the last three names are larger areas, all in the northern part of the northern kingdom. The wording of Revised Standard Version makes it appear that Gilead and Galilee are in the same category as the first five names, but this is not the case. See a map for the location of the five towns and the regions of Gilead, Galilee and Naphtali.

The name Abel-beth-maacah, which means “meadow of the house of Maacah,” is composed of three separate words and may be written that way as in Good News Translation, New International Version and New Century Version, or it may be written with hyphens between the words as in Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible. Otherwise, the length of the name may make it unmanageable in some languages.

With regard to Naphtali, the qualifying word all is used to emphasize that the entire region was brought into submission to Assyria.

He carried the people captive to Assyria: The Hebrew word translated carried … captive is actually a causative form of the verb meaning “remove.” It is elsewhere rendered “exiled” (2 Kgs 17.23). In this context Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible have translated it “deported.” The idea of making the people of Israel move to another place against their will is essential. In some languages it may be necessary to say “he forced the people to go to Assyria” or “he made the people leave their country to go to Assyria.”

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