Shemer: As noted in the comments on verse 32, some translations, as well as some ancient Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, read “Shomer” here (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, La Bible Pléiade). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text here, which reads Shemer. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project suggests that translators use a footnote to indicate that Shemer is the same person as “Shomer” in verse 32. But the same purpose will be served without a footnote by using the same spelling in the two verses.

His brother: Rohgah is literally “ʾachi and-Rohgah.” The Hebrew word ʾachi may be a proper name “Ahi,” or it may be the Hebrew word meaning “my brother.” Since “my brother” makes no sense in the context (whose brother?), a number of translations take ʾachi as a person’s name; for example, New International Version renders the whole verse as “The sons of Shomer: Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah and Aram” (similarly New Living Translation, King James Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond, La Bible du Semeur, La Bible Pléiade).

If, however, the Hebrew letter waw (“and”) is not connected to the beginning of the name Rohgah as in the Masoretic Text, but is added to the end of the word ʾachi as a third person masculine suffix, then the translation becomes “The sons of Shemer his brother: Rohgah…” as in Revised Standard Version. That is, Shemer is Japhlet’s brother (see verse 32). New Century Version makes this interpretation explicit by saying “Japhlet’s brother was Shomer. Shomer’s sons were Rohgah….” Revised Standard Version corrects the Masoretic Text to read his brother (also Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet). Although there is no manuscript evidence for this correction, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project regards it as the reading in the original text. So Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends using a footnote to state that the original text read “and the sons of Shemer his brother: Rohgah….” However, translators may put this rendering in the text itself.

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 .