And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem: The text does not state explicitly why David and all the Israelites went to Jerusalem. Good News Translation and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente translate according to the context and say that they “attacked” Jerusalem, and Bible en français courant says that they went to “besiege” Jerusalem. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Knox use the expression “marched on,” which also has an undeniable military meaning. The author emphasizes throughout 1 Chronicles that from the very beginning of David’s reign all Israel was united in support of David. So in this context all Israel should not be translated “the whole Israelite army” ( NET Bible).

That is Jebus: Jerusalem was known as Jebus before David conquered the city (see Josh 15.8; 18.28; Jdg 19.10). A literal translation of the Hebrew as in Revised Standard Version may incorrectly suggest that Jerusalem continued to be known also as Jebus. Good News Translation correctly says “It was then known as Jebus” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land: The Jebusites were descendants of Canaan (Gen 10.15-19), who were not expelled during Israel’s conquest of Canaan (Josh 15.63; Jdg 1.21), but lived in Jerusalem until David conquered them. Good News Translation renders the inhabitants as “the original inhabitants” (similarly NET Bible) in order to avoid giving the impression that the Jebusites were still living there at the time the book of 1 Chronicles was written.

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 .