To Eber were born two sons: The Hebrew verb rendered were born is singular, but the usage of a singular verb before a plural subject can occur in Hebrew. This passive expression reflects the Hebrew, but in many languages it will be more natural to say “Eber was the father of two sons” or “Eber gave birth to two sons” even though it was, of course, his wife who did so literally.

The name of the one was Peleg (for in his days the earth was divided): See Gen 10.25. The line of descent will continue with Peleg, who represents the fifteenth generation of humankind. But the writer first lists the peoples who descended from his brother Joktan. As the Good News Translation footnote indicates, the name Peleg sounds like the Hebrew word for “divide.” Rather than use a footnote to explain the meaning of the name, translators may wish to transliterate the Hebrew name in the text, followed by the meaning within parentheses since the meaning of the name is pertinent in this context; for example, La Bible du Semeur says “the one was named Peleg (Divide) because in his time the earth was divided” (similarly Osty-Trinquet), and Moffatt has “one called Peleg (Division) because the inhabitants of the earth were divided up in his day” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Other possible models are “the first was named Peleg, which means ‘Division’, because while he lived, the people of the earth were divided” (Bible en français courant), and “the one was named Peleg, Divided, because in his time the earth was divided” (Beaumont).

In his days the earth was divided (Good News Translation “the people of the world were divided”) probably refers to the division of the peoples of the earth as told in the story of the Tower of Babylon (see Gen 11.1-9).

And the name of his brother Joktan: Joktan was the father of thirteen sons, or, more probably, the ancestor of thirteen descendants, who are listed in verses 20-23. His descendants lived in southwestern Arabia.

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 .