Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah … is literally “Asaph was the chief and his second was Zechariah….” The Septuagint, followed by Klein, says “Asaph was the leader and those second to him were Zechariah….” The words chief and second may be better translated as verbs in some languages. Parole de Vie, for example, translates “Asaph directed them and Zechariah helped him.” To be a chief in this context means to lead in worship.

The people named here are mostly the same as in 1 Chr 15.17-18, with some omissions and some changes in spelling. The Revised Standard Version punctuation is ambiguous as to whether the nine individuals named after Asaph were all his assistants or whether Zechariah (Hebrew “Zecharya”) alone was his assistant (so Good News Translation, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). The punctuation of the Masoretic Text favors the interpretation in Good News Translation, so Zechariah should not be included among those who play harps and lyres.

The name Je-iel occurs twice. The first time it should probably be spelled “Jaaziel” (New Century Version, New English Bible/Revised English Bible, Klein) as in 1 Chr 15.18.

Who were to play harps and lyres: For harps and lyres, see the comments on 1 Chr 13.8. Other translations of these two instruments include “harps and zithers” (American Bible) and “lutes and harps” (New English Bible). If the receptor language does not have different instruments that correspond to these two musical instruments, a translation such as “stringed instruments” ( NET Bible) is acceptable.

Asaph was to sound the cymbals is literally “and Asaph with cymbals causing to hear” or “… with cymbals making oneself heard.” For cymbals see the comments on 1 Chr 13.8.

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 .