And their kinsmen according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty-six: In Revised Standard Version this phrase continues the long, complex sentence started in verse 7, but a number of versions begin a new sentence here (so New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). Good News Translation goes even further by starting a new paragraph because this verse constitutes a kind of summary statement. But other versions, such as Contemporary English Version, restructure the whole of verses 7-9 together. Good News Translation omits according to their generations, but New International Version keeps this phrase by saying “as listed in their genealogy,” and so does New Century Version with “the family history … lists.” As in verse 6, the number nine hundred and fifty-six probably refers to the total number of people from the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Jerusalem (so Contemporary English Version), not the total number of families (so Good News Translation).

All these were heads of fathers’ houses according to their fathers’ houses: Good News Translation correctly takes this clause to refer to the persons named in verses 7-8. For heads of fathers’ houses, see the comments on 1 Chr 5.24. Good News Translation renders this phrase as “heads of families” and does not repeat it, which other languages may find helpful.

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 .