3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Shisha, or Shavsha 1-Chronicles 18:16, seems also to have been called Sheva 2-Samuel 20:25, and Seraiah 2-Samuel 8:17.
The "scribes" were probably royal "secretaries" (margin), who drew up the king's edicts, wrote his letters, and perhaps managed his finances 1-Kings 12:10. They were among his most influential councillors.
By "recorder" or "remembrancer" (margin), we must understand "court annalist" (marginal reference "a").
Elihoreph and Ahiah - scribes - Secretaries to the king.
Jehoshaphat - recorder - Historiographer to the king, who chronicled the affairs of the kingdom. He was in this office under David see 2-Samuel 20:24.
Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes,.... Their father Shisha, the same with Sheva, was scribe only in David's time; and he being dead very probably, both his sons were continued in the office as secretaries of state, Solomon having more business for such an office, see 2-Samuel 20:25;
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; who was in the same office in the times of David, and now held it under Solomon, 2-Samuel 8:16.
scribes--that is, secretaries of state. Under David, there had been only one [2-Samuel 8:17; 2-Samuel 20:25]. The employment of three functionaries in this department indicates either improved regulations by the division of labor, or a great increase of business, occasioned by the growing prosperity of the kingdom, or a more extensive correspondence with foreign countries.
recorder--that is, historiographer, or annalist--an office of great importance in Oriental courts, and the duties of which consisted in chronicling the occurrences of every day.
Elichoreph and Achijah, sons of Shisha, who had held the same office under David, were secretaries of state (ספרים: see at 2-Samuel 8:17 and 2-Samuel 20:25, where the different names שׁשׁא = שׁיא and שׂריה are also discussed). - Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the chancellor, as he had already been in the time of David (2-Samuel 8:17 and 2-Samuel 20:24). The rendering of Thenius, "whilst Jehoshaphat was chancellor," is grammatically impossible.
Scribes - That is, secretaries of state. He chose two, whereas David had but one: either, because he observed some inconveniences in trusting all those matters in one hand: or, because he had now much more employment than David had, this being a time of great peace and prosperity, and his empire enlarged.
*More commentary available at chapter level.