This verse begins with the common Hebrew conjunction, which Contemporary English Version helpfully renders “Some time later.” Like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, most versions omit it here.

David consulted with commanders of thousands and of hundreds: Since this is the beginning of a new section, Good News Translation identifies David more fully as “King David” (also Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). The commanders of thousands and of hundreds refers to officers of military units (compare 2 Sam 18.1; 1 Chr 12.14). Moffatt reads “the commanders and generals.”

With every leader: The Hebrew term for leader is often translated “prince” (see the comments on 1 Chr 5.2). In this context it may refer to officers of the military, as in 2 Chr 32.21, where it is rendered “commanders.” The Hebrew preposition translated with sometimes has a generalizing force in 1–2 Chronicles at the end of a description or enumeration and may be translated “namely.” If this interpretation is followed, then the words every leader are in apposition to commanders (so Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje); for example, New American Bible renders the last half of this verse as “with his commanders of thousands and of hundreds, that is to say, with every one of his leaders.” But the reference to every leader may be to a separate group of leaders from the military leaders; for example, the last phrase of this verse in Bible en français courant is “as well as with all the notables,” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “and with all the notables.” For the whole verse compare also “David conferred with the leaders of the military units and the leaders of the people.” The text seems to be emphatic at the end of the verse and this emphasis should be retained in translation if possible. New Jerusalem Bible does so by rendering the last phrase as “in fact with all the leaders.” The translation of New American Bible cited above is recommended.

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 .