The son of Zeruiah: most readers will have no way of knowing that Zeruiah was a woman, even though it is very likely the original readers or hearers knew it. So it will probably be a good idea to follow the Good News Translation model (also Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) in saying “whose mother was Zeruiah,” even though no other English version does this. Compare 2.13.

Was over the army: the text has only the preposition over, while the verb “to be” is understood. This idea will be expressed differently in a number of languages. In some languages it will be more natural to use a verb like “commanded,” “controlled,” or “supervised.” Still others may say something like “looked over the affairs of” or “was the leader of.”

Recorder: the precise meanings of the terms recorder here and “secretary” in the following verse are not clear. The difference between the two is also uncertain. But the rendering of the two terms should be decided together. Anchor Bible translates the term used in this verse (recorder) as “remembrancer,” and indeed the root verb on which the noun is based is “to remember” or “to be mindful.” According to the Anchor Bible commentary, the task of the person holding this office has been compared to that of the Egyptian “speaker,” who was responsible to report to the king and to communicate his proclamations to his subjects. New Jerusalem Bible seems to follow this interpretation by translating “herald.” And so does Anderson, who qualifies the term by adding “royal herald.” Revised English Bible has the modern-sounding expression “secretary of state.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, like Moffatt, translates “chancellor” but adds a note giving details about the duties of this office.

Although the majority of English versions still use the noun recorder or a verb phrase having similar meaning—like “kept the records” (Knox)—translators should feel free to communicate the meaning “royal herald.” Some may say “the spokesman,” “the person in charge of direct communication with the king,” or “the one who reported to the king and made known his decisions to the people.” Since the next verse speaks of a “secretary,” it is probable that the term recorder does not refer primarily to someone who kept official records for the king.

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 .