But their duty shall be …: As noted in the comments on verse 25, some versions include verses 28-32 as words of David and others include only verses 25-26, making verses 28-32 a continuation of the writer’s comments. If translators include verses 28-32 as part of David’s continued speech, then Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch may provide a good model for the beginning of this verse: “David had commanded: ‘The work of the Levites is….’ ” In a footnote Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch states that the clause “David had commanded” was added to clarify the meaning. However, if the alternative interpretation is adopted, a new paragraph may be started with this verse, saying “The work of the Levites was…” (similarly New International Version). Regarding the duties of the Levites, see Num 3.5-9. The Hebrew conjunction rendered but may be omitted (so New International Version, New Living Translation).
To assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD is literally “at the hand of the sons of Aaron….” Some interpreters think that the sense of the Hebrew here is that the Levites were to be subordinate to the priests. Others understand the Hebrew to mean that the Levites were to work alongside the priests, doing their own specific assigned tasks that are listed next. This second understanding seems more likely the intended meaning; for example, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh begins this verse with “For their appointment was alongside the Aaronites for the service of the House of the LORD.” The sons of Aaron refers here to “the priests descended from Aaron” (Good News Translation).
Having care of the courts and the chambers: The courts refers to the Temple courtyards (see 1 Kgs 7.12), and the chambers refers to the storerooms and other rooms attached to the Temple (see 1 Kgs 6.5). The exact purpose of the chambers is not clear, nor does the text state exactly what the Levites’ duties were in regard to the Temple courtyards.
The cleansing of all that is holy: The exact meaning of this expression in Hebrew is not clear. Perhaps it refers to cleansing the animals to be sacrificed (see Lev 1.9, 13). Or it may refer to keeping the objects used in the Temple ritually clean (see 2 Chr 29.15-19); for example, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “the purity of all the holy things,” and NET Bible has “ceremonial purification of all holy items.” The sense could be simply that the Levites were to work as janitors, keeping the Temple clean, but this sense is less likely.
And any work for the service of the house of God: This phrase seems to repeat the words for the service of the house of the LORD at the beginning of the verse, so Good News Translation does not translate it. But compare Nueva Versión Internacional, which says “lastly, with everything related to the service of God’s temple.”
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 .