Before translating this verse, translators must decide whether this verse refers to one group or two. That is, are Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel the names of the princes who contributed willingly or do they constitute a separate group? The Good News Translation translation is most likely correct in suggesting two different groups. An American Translation, on the other hand, suggests that the three Temple officials are the princes. An American Translation says “His princes also gave as a voluntary gift to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites—Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the passover offerings—two thousand and six hundred lambs and three hundred cattle.”

And his princes contributed willingly …: In this context the Hebrew word for princes is better rendered “officials” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) or “nobles” (Moffatt). See the comments on 1 Chr 19.3 and 2 Chr 12.5. Good News Translation leaves out the notion that Josiah’s officials gave willingly, but there is no obvious reason for omitting the idea that these contributions were given “voluntarily” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version).

The Masoretic Text does not have the words lambs and kids near the end of this verse. Some ancient versions add these words in light of the preceding verse, but they are probably not original. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the reading of the Masoretic Text here. However, these words are implied in the Masoretic Text, so they may be added. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh places the words “small cattle” in square brackets as a way of indicating that these words are only implied in the Hebrew.

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 .