And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar: Translators should be careful not to give the impression that the phrase next to him refers to physical nearness, as if the three men were standing in a row next to each other. The idea is that of rank or importance. In some languages this idea will be conveyed by saying “after him.” But in some cases a clearer statement of rank such as “The second” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) will be more natural. Some versions use military expressions such as “Next in rank [to him]” (New Living Translation, God’s Word) and “Next in command” ( NET Bible), which seem to be appropriate in this context.

The son of Dodo, the Ahohite: The Hebrew word that means “father’s brother” is dod. The Hebrew word dodo means “his father’s brother.” So it is possible to understand the Hebrew words translated the son of Dodo as “his cousin” (Knox). According to the translation in Knox, Eleazar was the son of Jashobeam’s uncle. Eleazar was thus the cousin of Jashobeam. The name written here as Dodo appears elsewhere as “Dodai” (1 Chr 27.4). For this reason New Living Translation harmonizes the names, using the form “Dodai” in this verse. In 2 Sam 23.9 Dodo’s name is given as “Dodi” in the text, but the correction in the margin of the Masoretic Text reads “Dodo.”

The form of the Hebrew term rendered Ahohite seems to indicate clan membership (so Good News Translation). Ahoah was from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chr 8.4). Some understand the Hebrew word for Ahohite to be the proper name “Ahohi,” but more likely it refers to the clan of Ahoah. Some interpreters understand the Hebrew word as referring to a place (so Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

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 .