Shammoth of Harod (verse 27): Shammoth appears in 2 Sam 23.25 as “Shammah” but these are simply two forms of the same name, and some translators may wish to harmonize the two as New Living Translation has done. Harod was a town in or near Jezreel Valley. In the parallel text of the Masoretic Text at 2 Sam 23.25 Shammath is called “the Harodite.” Here in 1 Chronicles the Masoretic Text says “the Harorite” (so New Century Version, American Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond). No doubt the difference between the words “Harodite” and “Harorite” may be explained because of the similar shape of the letters for “d” and “r” in the Hebrew alphabet, but it is impossible to know which is the correct spelling. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the spelling of the name as “Harodite” in 2 Sam 23.25 is the result of a scribal mistake, so Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the word “Harorite” in the Masoretic Text.

“Elika of Harod” is mentioned in 2 Sam 23.25 after Shammah of Harod. Knoppers adds “Eliqa the Harodite” here in verse 27, thinking a scribe accidentally omitted these words because the word “Harodite” occurred twice in this verse. But the Masoretic Text does not have this name here in 1 Chronicles, nor do any textual witnesses for 1 Chronicles, so it should not be included here in translation.

Helez the Pelonite (verse 27): The Pelonite appears as “the Paltite” in 2 Sam 23.26. According to HALOT, the Hebrew word peloni refers to a person or place that is not known. The English equivalent for Helez the Pelonite would be “Helez from so-and-so.” Revised English Bible translates “Helez from a place unknown.” (See the comments on the same place name in verse 36 below.) In any case, there is insufficient ground to harmonize the spelling with that of 2 Samuel.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .