Complex sentence: Instead of repeating the same name as an ancestor, however, it was customary to make use of one of the elements of the family name; thus Ahitub has two sons, Ahijah and Ahimelech.
Split into simpler sentences: Instead of repeating the exact name of an ancestor, however, it was customary to make use of one of the elements of the family name. Thus, Ahitub has two sons, Ahijah and Ahimelech.