And they put his armor in the temple of their gods: The pronoun they may be translated “The Philistines” (so New Century Version) if there is any danger of misunderstanding. His armor clearly includes the weapons of Saul. The Hebrew noun for armor is the same one used in the previous verse. It is a very general term that is often rendered “utensils.” But in the context of this battle and the ensuing events, it refers to articles used in warfare and is legitimately translated “weapons” (Good News Translation). The Hebrew noun translated gods is plural in form but it may be singular in meaning (so Revised English Bible). Since the next part of this verse indicates that there was a separate temple for the god Dagon, it is not likely that more than one god was worshiped in a single temple. For this reason Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch render the temple of their gods as “the temple of one of their gods.” The parallel passage in 1 Sam 31.10 specifies “the temple of Ashtaroth.” While this may be mentioned here in a footnote, the text of 1 Chronicles should not be harmonized with that of 1 Samuel.

And fastened his head in the temple of Dagon: Fastened translates a Hebrew verb that is often used elsewhere of driving tent pegs into the ground. Some translations attempt to show this sense of the verb by saying “nailed” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt, Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). But the verb “nailed” probably does not capture the action as well as the verb “impaled” (New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, An American Translation). Some languages will have specific verbs for attaching something to a wall or tree by means of large sticks or stakes. Such a verb would be appropriate here. Head is literally “skull” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). But if the word “skull” implies a completely dried and very old skeleton of the head, then the word “head” may be preferable here.

The temple of Dagon is literally “the house of Dagon” (New American Standard Bible). It may be necessary to make explicit that the “house” is a temple or “shrine” and that Dagon is a Philistine god. Jdg 16.23 refers to Dagon as the god of the Philistines (see also 1 Sam 5.1-5). Archaeological evidence shows that Dagon was worshiped also in Mesopotamia and Syria. The Philistines apparently began to worship Dagon when they arrived in the land of Palestine. Nearly all versions say in the temple of Dagon. However, New American Bible has “on the temple of Dagon.” The Hebrew text does not have a preposition before “the house of Dagon.”

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 .