This is the thing that you shall do: The strategy outlined by Jehoiada begins with these words and continues through the end of verse 7. Instead of the future tense as in Revised Standard Version, it may be more natural in many languages to translate these words as “This is what I want you to do” or “This is what you must do” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the sabbath is literally “of you who come in the Sabbath to the priests and to the Levites.” There is considerable uncertainty among scholars about the meaning of this clause in Hebrew. The sense may be that the priests and Levites who were coming off duty on the Sabbath were to stay at the Temple and join those who were coming on duty (so Revised Standard Version). But more likely the intended meaning is just the opposite of Revised Standard Version. Good News Translation says “When the priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, Anchor Bible, Moffatt, Bible en français courant, Dillard). For sabbath see the comments on 1 Chr 9.32.

One third shall be gatekeepers: One third of the priests and Levites were to guard the Temple gates. The idea of one third may be expressed in some languages by saying “one of every three of you.” Others may have to restructure the whole passage and say first “You must divide yourselves into three equal groups.” Following that, translators may speak simply of “the first group,” “the second group,” and “the third group.” The verb shall be is supplied by Revised Standard Version here and two times in the next verse, but it does not reflect anything in the Hebrew text. This verb is better rendered “must be” since Jehoiada is giving instructions here. For gatekeepers see the comments on 1 Chr 9.17. Good News Translation and Bible en français courant make it explicit that “the Temple gates” are in view here.

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 .