And they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes and the dedicated things: The Hebrew noun translated faithfully occurs at the end of this sentence in the Hebrew text, but it clearly modifies the verb brought in, and good English style requires that it be brought forward. The Hebrew noun comes from a root that expresses the idea of faithfulness and steadfastness. The idea seems to be that they acted “conscientiously” (New Jerusalem Bible, Anchor Bible). But the Hebrew noun seems to have the idea of “security” in Isa 33.6. This use of the noun is the basis for Good News Translation‘s rendering, which is “for safekeeping” (similarly New American Bible). Either interpretation is possible, but the larger context seems to favor the first interpretation.

The Hebrew noun translated contributions (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “gifts”) comes from a root meaning “to lift” or “to raise.” The noun refers to something that was lifted or raised from a larger whole in order to present it as an offering. Here, these were freewill offerings as opposed to the tithes, which were legally required. For tithes see the comments on 2Chr 31.5; for dedicated things, see 2Chr 31.6.

The chief officer in charge of them was Conaniah the Levite, with Shime-i his brother as second: King Hezekiah and the High Priest Azariah appointed two Levites, Conaniah and his brother Shime-i, to be in charge of the Temple storage chambers. They were assisted by ten other Levites (named in verse 13). Conaniah is referred to as the Levite, but the presence of the definite article may be misleading in English. Since there were many Levites, it will probably be better to say simply “a Levite” as in Good News Translation and New International Version. The definite article was probably used because this particular man was well known at the time. That Shimei was second to Conaniah means that he “was next to him in authority” (An American Translation).

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 .