Sheva: in some languages there is no distinction between the b and v sounds. So translators will have to be careful in transliterating this name so that there is adequate distinction between “Sheba,” who is a central character earlier in this chapter, and Sheva. It will be misleading to the reader to have the same form for these two names.

Secretary: in 8.17 the name of the person holding this office was “Seraiah.” Either there had been a change in this position since that time, or else the different names refer to the same person, as many interpreters think. As in chapter 8, some languages may have a difficult time making a distinction between the functions of a secretary and “the recorder” mentioned in the previous verse. See the discussion at 8.17.

Zadok and Abiathar are frequently mentioned together in this book (see, for example, 15.29, 35; 17.15; 19.11).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .