Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel: Syria and Israel were often at war. They were apparently at peace during the time that the Naaman incident occurred. The girl who is the key to this story had been captured by the Syrians on one of their previous attacks against Israel. In some languages it will have to be stated clearly at this point that the raid was “against Israel,” as Good News Translation has done.

The verb tense of had carried off should show that this was something that had happened some time prior to the appearance of Naaman’s leprosy. Some languages may require a restructuring of the entire verse beginning with “Some time before this, the Syrians had captured…” or something similar.

A little maid is translated “a young girl” by several English versions (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version). The actual age of the girl is uncertain. The Hebrew word translated maid is used in the Old Testament of young single girls who are still virgins or of young married women, so the reference need not be to a little child (see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.2). In this context the Hebrew word translated little probably refers more to age than to physical size (see the comments on 1 Kgs 11.17). In those languages where the age is important in deciding which word to use, translators should probably consider that the girl was less than fifteen years old.

She waited on … is literally “she was before….” This expression is used often to speak of one who “serves” another person. Contemporary English Version translates “she became a servant of…” (similarly New American Bible). Compare 1 Sam 19.7.

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 .