Verses 3-9 list non-Levitical clans who returned to live in Jerusalem.

And: The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse is usually not translated in most modern versions (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible) although it is retained in some (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version). Naturalness in the receptor language should be the determining factor in whether or not the Hebrew conjunction is translated here.

Some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh dwelt in Jerusalem: The wording of the text makes it clear that it was not all of the people in the tribes named who settled in Jerusalem. According to Neh 11.1, the people drew lots to choose one family out of every ten to go and live in the capital city.

Judah and Benjamin formed the southern kingdom of Judah; Ephraim and Manasseh had been the two most important tribes in the northern kingdom of Israel, and here they probably stand for the entire northern kingdom. Throughout 1 Chronicles the writer emphasizes God’s intention for the unity of “all” Israel (see 11.1-9; 12.1-40; 13.1-14). The parallel text in Neh 11.4 omits the reference to Ephraim and Manasseh. In the lists that follow in this chapter, there is no further mention of people from Ephraim and Manasseh.

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 .