They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor: The Hebrew word translated entrance indicates that the movement was in the direction of Gedor and very close to it. New International Version uses the common English word “outskirts,” while Revised English Bible has “approaches.” Others may prefer to say “point just outside.” Good News Translation adds the word “westward,” which highlights information that would have been understood by the original readers based on the geographical names used and the rest of the context.
As the footnote in Good News Translation indicates, the Masoretic Text reads Gedor, which is followed by many translations (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The Septuagint has “Gerar” (also Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt, Osty-Trinquet). The town of Gerar was on the southwest border of Canaan in the desert area (see Gen 20.1; 26.17). Gedor, on the other hand, is less appropriate to the context from a geographical point of view. There are two biblical sites by the name Gedor. One, mentioned in 1 Chr 4.18, was a Calebite town mentioned with Soco and Zanoah and was probably located south of Hebron. The other was in the territory of Benjamin and is mentioned as the place from where two of David’s followers came (1 Chr 12.7). Nevertheless, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {D} rating to Gedor.
To the east side of the valley: If the text is corrected to read “Gerar,” then the valley may refer to the Gerar Valley (see Gen 26.17). Good News Translation provides a helpful model for this whole phrase, saying “on the eastern side of the valley in which that city is located.”
To seek pasture for their flocks: Since the word flocks may be too general in English, Good News Translation and International Children’s Bible say specifically “sheep” (also Bible en français courant). The Hebrew word for flocks may refer to sheep or to both sheep and goats, so Contemporary English Version says “flocks and herds.”
In Revised Standard Version the sentence that starts in this verse continues in verse 40. But it is probably better in most languages to make a break at the end of this verse, as in Good News Translation, New International Version, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and other versions.
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 .