Canaan was the father of Sidon his first-born: See Gen 10.15. Canaan was introduced in verse 8 as one of Ham’s sons. Sidon was the ancestor of the people who lived in the Phoenician city of Sidon on the northeast Mediterranean coast. Perhaps Sidon is used here more widely to refer to Phoenicia rather than to the city of Sidon. Sidon was the first-born son of Canaan. The Hebrew word translated first-born is from the same root as “first fruits” of a harvest. In modern English it is more naturally translated “oldest [son]” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), “eldest son” (Revised English Bible), or “first child” (New Century Version). Other languages may have their own special terms for the first child born into a family.

The descendants of Heth lived in the area of Hebron, in the hill country south of Jerusalem (see Gen 23). The descendants of Heth are also called “Hittites,” and some versions use that designation here (so New Living Translation, New Century Version).

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 .