Toi: it may be unnecessary in many languages to repeat the name at this point. As in Good News Translation, the pronoun may be sufficient.

His son Joram: some textual evidence has “Hadoram his son” at this point, and this is adopted by New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt, and An American Translation. Joram means “Yahweh is exalted,” while Hadoram (probably a shortened form of Hadadram), which is found in 1 Chr 18.10, signifies “Hadad is exalted” (concerning the name “Hadad,” see the comments on the name “Hadadezer” in verse 3). It is unlikely that the original name of this non-Israelite was in praise of Yahweh, so Hadoram was probably original. It may have been changed out of gratitude for the Israelite victory over Hadadezer and the subsequent protection provided by the Israelites. But the translation here should be based on the best available textual evidence, which has Joram. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text and recommend that the name Joram be used.

Congratulate: this verb may have to be rendered “praise” or “honor” in some languages. The Hebrew word is, in fact, the one usually translated “bless,” as indicated in King James Version and New American Standard Bible. Another possible translation is “transmit greetings” (La Bible du Semeur).

Articles: the Hebrew term used here is a very general one that may refer to anything man-made. It sometimes refers to containers of liquid (Ruth 2.9), or figures (1 Sam 6.8), or weapons (1 Sam 8.12). Probably in this context it refers to a number of different types of objects. So it will be advisable to use a general term, such as “objects,” “items,” or “things” in the receptor language.

Of silver, of gold, and of bronze: these three metals were the material used to make the objects. The most probable meaning is that some objects were made of one metal and others of another—not that each object was made of a combination of the three metals. As indicated in the comments on 8.8 and 1 Sam 17.5, the word rendered bronze may also be “copper.”

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 .