Eliab is called “Eliel” in verse 34 and “Elihu” in 1 Sam 1.1, but these names are rarely harmonized in modern versions. A footnote may be necessary to explain that these three names refer to the same person.

In some languages translators may prefer to render Elkanah as “another Elkanah” to avoid confusion based on the previous two verses. This Elkanah and his wife Hannah were the parents of Samuel (1 Sam 1). The Chronicler seems to assume that his readers will know that Samuel was a son of Elkanah (verse 28). Some interpreters follow one part of the Septuagint texts by adding the words “Samuel his son” at the end of this verse (so New International Version, New Living Translation, New American Bible, Braun, Osty-Trinquet). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text here. Menge adds “his son Samuel” within parentheses and explains in a footnote that this is the reading of some Septuagint manuscripts. For purposes of translation it is acceptable to add “Samuel his son” at the end of this verse, since this only makes explicit what the writer left implied.

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 .