And they brought up the ark …: The Hebrew verb rendered brought up indicates that the ark and the other items were carried to the Temple. The movement in an upward direction is not important to the story and may be omitted if its inclusion would be unnatural in the receptor language (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, International Children’s Bible, New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, La Bible du Semeur, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).
The tent of meeting probably refers to the tent that had been at Gibeon, according to 2 Chr 1.3, not the tent that David had made for the Covenant Box in Jerusalem (see 1 Chr 15.1; 16.1; 2 Chr 1.4). In 1 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles, the tent of meeting always refers to the tent made by Moses (see the comments on 1 Chr 6.32). The narrative does not tell when this tent had been moved from Gibeon to Jerusalem, or perhaps it was still in Gibeon.
All the holy vessels that were in the tent: See the comments on 1 Chr 22.19. This phrase may be better translated “all the sacred furnishings in it” (New International Version; similarly Revised English Bible) or “all the holy utensils in it” (God’s Word). In some languages it may be necessary to say “all the objects that the priests used in their work.”
The priests and the Levites brought them up: Both the priests and the Levites were descendants of Levi. The Levites included all of the Temple personnel who were not priests (see the comments on 1 Chr 9.2). The Masoretic Text does not have the conjunction and between the priests and the Levites, although some Hebrew manuscripts as well as the ancient versions do have the conjunction. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text here and claims that the author did not intend to refer to two different groups. Versions that follow this understanding say “the levitical priests” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Bible en français courant, El libro del Pueblo de Dios) or “The priests, who were Levites” (New International Version). Some interpreters think the Revised Standard Version translation is correct since the author of 1-2 Chronicles elsewhere always makes a distinction between the priests and the Levites.
As in verse 2, Good News Translation adds “to the Temple” (so also New Living Translation, God’s Word). This completes the meaning, and such an addition may be required by the grammar of many languages.
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 .