The information from the second sentence in this verse to the end of the following verse interrupts the listing of names, so Good News Translation sets it off as parenthetical.
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses: Amram’s sons are listed also in 1 Chr 6.3. Verses 18-20 list the sons of Kohath’s other three sons. Good News Translation attempts to show the relationship of this verse with the previous one by repeating the information that Amram was the oldest son of Kohath.
Aaron was set apart: See Exo 28.1. The Hebrew verb rendered was set apart expresses the idea of separation from other duties for a specific purpose (see, for example, Deut 10.8). Contemporary English Version and New Century Version use the verb “were chosen,” and God’s Word says “were designated.”
To consecrate the most holy things is literally “to consecrate him holy of holies.” The Hebrew verb rendered consecrate is very similar in meaning to the verb translated was set apart. But it has at its root the idea of being holy. For this reason it is sometimes rendered “sanctify” (King James Version, New American Standard Bible). It has also been translated “dedicate” (New Living Translation, Revised English Bible). This whole clause is difficult to understand. The pronoun “him” may be the subject of the verb “consecrate.” The sense is then that Aaron, with his descendants, was set apart to consecrate something. The Hebrew idiom “holy of holies” means “most holy.” When this phrase is used of the part of the Temple called “the Holy of Holies” or “the Most Holy Place,” the Hebrew has the definite article. When it is used without a definite article, as here, it refers to holy things used in connection with the Temple worship. Since this expression (“holy of holies”) is used elsewhere in the Old Testament to refer to the altar (Exo 29.37), the holy food of sacrifices (Lev 2.3), and the objects used in worship, including the Tabernacle (Exo 30.29), it is not clear which is intended here. Some translations take the words to consecrate the most holy things to mean that Aaron and his sons were set apart in order to be in charge of the sacred objects (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or the Most Holy Place (Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). With this understanding consecrate means they followed the proper rituals.
It is also possible that the pronoun “him” may function as the object of the verb “consecrate,” meaning that Aaron and his sons were consecrated (so New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, An American Translation, Moffatt, Nouvelle Bible Segond, La Bible du Semeur). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, for example, says “Aaron was set apart, he and his sons, forever, to be consecrated as most holy.” New American Bible similarly says “Aaron was set apart to be consecrated as most holy, he and his sons forever.” However, if the reference here is to Aaron and his sons, then this is the only place in the Old Testament where this expression is used of people.
Regardless of which interpretation is followed, the meaning is not greatly different since Aaron and his sons had to be consecrated as most holy in order to sanctify the most holy things. In any case, Aaron and his descendants were set apart from the other Levites to serve as priests. However, Moses and his descendants remained Levites.
That he and his sons for ever should burn incense before the LORD: The phrase he and his sons for ever is better taken with the previous clause (so Good News Translation). For ever may also be expressed as “on a permanent basis” ( NET Bible). The Hebrew verb rendered burn incense can refer to burning incense or to offering sacrifices. Since the Old Testament often refers to sacrifices as “a pleasing odor to the LORD” (Lev 1.9), that may explain why this verb sometimes was used a a general term for offering sacrifices. Either “burn incense” or “offer sacrifices” is an acceptable translation here, although in light of instructions to Moses in Exo 30.7-8 and 34-38, “burn incense” is most likely the intended sense here. Translations include “make offerings” (New Revised Standard Version), “burn sacrifices” (Revised English Bible), “sacrifice” (Braun), and “burn incense” (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible).
And minister to him may be rendered “to serve him” (Good News Translation; see the comments on 1 Chr 15.2).
And pronounce blessings in his name for ever: See the comments on 1 Chr 16.2. The Hebrew does not make explicit whom the priests were to bless. The implied object is “the people” (see Num 6.27), and this may be made explicit, as in Good News Translation (also Contemporary English Version, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch adds “the community” as the explicit object. In Deut 10.8 the entire tribe of Levi was given the task of blessing the people, but here only the priests are in view.
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 .