Though verse 13 states that both sons and daughters were born to David in Jerusalem, the eleven children listed here are all sons. Of these eleven, only Nathan and Solomon are mentioned elsewhere. Good News Translation uses the general word “children,” but since these are sons, it is better to state that clearly as in Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje: “The sons of David that were born in Jerusalem were….”

Were born: see the comments on the previous verse. If it is necessary to avoid the passive construction, translators may begin this verse with something like “David’s wives gave birth to the following children in Jerusalem….”

Eliada: in the parallel account in 1 Chr 14.7, the name found at this point is “Baal-yada” (Revised Standard Version “Beeliada”). This difference is undoubtedly connected with the practice of changing the spelling of names that once contained the word “baal.” (This is discussed in Ellington 1993 as well as in the Appendix, page 1213.) Most translations follow the Masoretic Text here, to which Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating. A few interpreters, however, follow some manuscripts of the Septuagint in reading “Baaliada” (so New American Bible and Anchor Bible).

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 .