And after this …: The Hebrew text begins with the verbal transition (King James Version “And it came to pass”) followed by an adverb of time showing that the events here took place some time after the ones previously reported. Receptor languages may have a variety of ways of indicating this. New International Version does so by beginning with “In the course of time …,” and Contemporary English Version says “Some time later….”

There arose war with the Philistines at Gezer: The text does not say who went to war against the Philistines. International Children’s Bible makes it clear by saying “war broke out between Israel and the Philistines at Gezer.” Regarding the location and importance of the town of Gezer, see the comments on 1 Chr 6.67. In the parallel text of 2 Sam 21.18 this same town is called “Gob.”

Then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Sippai: Sibbecai the Hushathite was from the town of Hushah, located in the hills of the territory of Judah, a few kilometers southwest of Bethlehem. Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje says “Sibbecai, from the town of Hushah.” He is mentioned also in 1 Chr 11.29, where he is included among the mighty men of David’s army, and possibly also in 2 Sam 23.27. According to 1 Chr 27.11, he was the commander of David’s army who served in the eighth month each year. Instead of Sippai, the parallel passage in , 2 Sam 21.18 has “Saph,” which is actually a variant of the name Sippai. New Living Translation reads “Saph” here. Translators may use the same spelling of the name in both cases.

Who was one of the descendants of the giants is literally “from the sons of the giants.” This expression has been traditionally understood to mean that the men described in this way here and in the following verses were physical descendants of people of unusually large stature, the Rephaim, who are described in Gen 14.5; 15.20; Deut 2.10-11; Josh 12.4; 13.12; 17.15, and elsewhere. However, in his commentary on 2 Samuel, McCarter indicates that the Hebrew word translated descendants may be understood to imply membership in a group in the same way that “sons of the prophets” refers to members of a prophetic guild (see 1 Kgs 20.35; Amos 7.14). It was used especially to refer to people of low estate who were dedicated to military service of a master (see Gen 14.14, where it is rendered “born”).

The meaning of the Hebrew word translated the giants (harephaʾim) is not entirely certain either. This Hebrew word is plural and has the prefixed letter for “h,” which is usually understood to be the Hebrew definite article. But in , verses 6 and 8 the Hebrew word is singular, haraphaʾ. These Hebrew words are sometimes transliterated “the Rephaim” (Contemporary English Version, , Revised English Bible), “the Rephaim/Rapha” ( NET Bible), “the Rephaites/Rapha” (New International Version), or “the Raphaim” (New American Bible). Some interpreters consider these words to be a woman’s name, in which case the initial letter for “h” is not the definite article but is part of the woman’s name (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible with “Harafa” in verses 6 and 8). But the plural word in verse 4 almost certainly shows that the writer intended the reference here and in verses 6 and 8 to be the ancient giants. Translators are advised to render the meaning found in , Revised Standard Version (also New Revised Standard Version, Anchor Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nueva Versión Internacional, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), while adding an explanatory footnote if necessary.

And the Philistines were subdued is literally “and they were subdued.” Osty-Trinquet places the words “the Philistines” within square brackets. However, even though the Hebrew does not have the words “the Philistines,” such information may be made explicit here without the use of square brackets. This statement shows that God’s promise to David to “subdue all your enemies” (1 Chr 17.10) is being fulfilled.

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 .