As noted in the introductory comments on this section [1 Chr 21.1–22.1], many versions begin a new section here. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente calls this new section “God punishes the people because of the census.” Other translations take this verse as the climax of the preceding paragraph (so New International Version).

But God was displeased with this thing is literally “And it was evil in the eyes of God concerning this thing.” Taking the census was evil in God’s eyes. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “God did not approve of the census made by David.” Since Joab also was displeased, Revised English Bible adds the word “also,” saying “God also was displeased with the order.”

And he smote Israel: And renders the common Hebrew conjunction. It links God’s displeasure with his action of punishing the people of Israel. It is correctly translated “so” (Good News Translation, New Century Version, God’s Word) or “therefore.” In some languages it will be misleading to say simply and because this may give the impression that the two events are only loosely related. New Jerusalem Bible shows the relationship in a different way by adding the words “in consequence” at the end of the verse. The writer says only that God smote Israel, but he does not tell what form this punishment took. In some languages the verb used may depend on the nature of the punishment. Since that is not known, a general verb such as “struck” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “punish/punished” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, American Bible, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje) should be used if possible.

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 .