Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 4:8

Koz was the father of Anub …: Koz is introduced abruptly without having been previously mentioned, unless the Targum is followed in the previous verse, in which case Koz would have been a son of Asshur and Helah.

In the Hebrew text Zobebah has the definite article ha at the beginning of the name. Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation do not include the article, but others do. New International Version, for example, says “Hazzobebah” (also New Jerusalem Bible, American Bible, Segond, La Bible du Semeur, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Osty-Trinquet). La Bible Pléiade has the definite article in French; but it is difficult to understand what this might mean, and no footnote is provided.

And the families of Aharhel the son of Harum: As in 1 Chr 4.2, families may be better rendered “clans” (Revised English Bible) or “family group” (New Century Version). Regarding the name Harum, some interpreters have suggested that the name “Rum” is a variant of the name Ram, and that Ha should be understood as the definite article, so Aharhel was a descendant of Ram. But this interpretation is not widely accepted. In any case, since Aharhel is said to be a son of Harum, he is not a son of Koz. Apparently Harum was a prominent descendant of Koz but not in the first generation of Koz’s descendants.

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 .

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