But Hadad fled to Egypt …: This verse states an exception to the general statement of the previous verse. Hadad and the servants who escaped to Egypt were Edomites. So the word “every” in verse 16 is not to be taken literally. Languages may vary considerably in the way they deal with such exceptions following all-inclusive statements. But most will begin with some sort of device to show that an exception to the general rule follows, for example, “But” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “except” (Good News Translation).

The first occurrence of the name Hadad in this verse is literally “Adad.” Some interpreters have suggested that this verse combines two separate stories, one about Hadad and another about Adad. Most likely, however, the name “Adad” is simply a variant spelling. Osty-Trinquet has “Hadad” in verse 14 and “Adad” here in verse 17, but two different spellings for the same person’s name may confuse readers. Most translations say “Hadad” instead of “Adad,” and that is the recommendation of this Handbook also.

With certain Edomites of his father’s servants: Servants in this context probably refers not to domestic servants but rather to “officials” (so New International Version). New Living Translation renders this whole clause “a few of his father’s royal officials,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “with a number of Edomites in his father’s service.”

Revised Standard Version follows the form of the Hebrew by indicating at the end of this verse that Hadad was then only a little child. Good News Translation places this information in parentheses, indicating that it is parenthetical, that is, that it interrupts the flow of the story. Revised English Bible restructures and places this information at the beginning of the verse by saying “Hadad, who was still a boy, fled…” (similarly Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). This may be a useful model for other languages also. Some languages have a variety of words referring to different stages of human physical development. So translators will need to know just how young the boy was when this event took place. The Hebrew term (naʿar) used here for child is quite broad in meaning. It may be used of a newborn infant (1 Sam 4.21) or of a child just weaned (1 Sam 1.24). But it is also used of a youth perhaps as old as 17 years of age (Gen 37.2). It is the same word that is used of David when he went to fight Goliath (1 Sam 17.33). In that case Revised Standard Version translates it “youth.” In this case, however, the noun is qualified by an adjective meaning “small” or “insignificant.” So Hadad was probably no more than seven or eight years old.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .