King Solomon built: Since verse 26 continues the list of Solomon’s accomplishments, Good News Translation adds the word “also” before the verb built. Or possibly “also” is a translation of the common Hebrew conjunction, which begins the verse.
The verb built is certainly not intended to imply that Solomon himself did the work. Rather, the idea is that he “caused to be built” or “had constructed” (Bible en français courant). In certain languages a causative verb form will sound better in this context.
Fleet of ships: The noun in Hebrew here is singular, but it is used in the collective sense to mean “ships.” In cultures where only small boats or dugout canoes are known, the usual translation for ships is “large boats.”
The port city of Ezion-geber is mentioned also in 1 Kgs 22.48. Archaeologists have proposed several different locations for this ancient city on the southern border of Israel. Recent studies favor the view that Ezion-geber is the small island named Jezirat Far’on, meaning “Island of Pharaoh.” Eloth is a small town located on the north coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. This town is elsewhere called Elath, and for this reason Good News Translation and New Living Translation call it “Elath” here also.
Red Sea is the traditional rendering of the Hebrew name here. Some modern translations give the alternate translation “Sea of Reeds” in a footnote (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), while others have “Sea of Reeds” in the text (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). Good News Translation says “Gulf of Aqaba” and gives the following Word List entry for Red Sea: “Evidently referred originally to (1) a series of lakes and marshes between the head of the Gulf of Suez and the Mediterranean, the region generally regarded as the site of the events described in Exodus 13, and was also used to designate (2) the Gulf of Suez, (3) the Gulf of Aqaba.” Whether translators decide to say “Red Sea,” “Sea of Reeds” or “Gulf of Aqaba,” a glossary explanation will be essential.
The land of Edom had been conquered earlier by King David, according to 2 Sam 8.14. This area was located south and east of the Dead Sea and had been settled by Jacob’s brother Esau, who is sometimes called “Edom” (Gen 25.30; 36.1).
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 .