The sons of Levi …: This verse is virtually identical with Gen 46.11 (see also Exo 6.16). Revised Standard Version reflects the Hebrew, which has no verb; but for those languages that require a verb, Good News Translation provides a reasonable model. A number of other versions supply the verb “were” (New Living Translation, New Century Version, New American Standard Bible). Another possible model is found in Contemporary English Version, which begins with “Levi was the father of….” Good News Translation adds the number “three” as the context allows.

The sons of Levi are listed again in verse 16. The sons of Gershom are listed in verse 17; the sons of Kohath in verses 2 and 18; and the sons of Merari in verses 19 and 29.

In Hebrew the name Gershom is spelled “Gershon.” The spelling of this person’s name is “Gershom” in verse 16, as well as in a number of other verses in 1 Chronicles, so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and New Jerusalem Bible harmonize it to read “Gershom” here in verse 1. Elsewhere in the Old Testament his name is always spelled “Gershon.” Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and New International Version use the spelling “Gershon” throughout the Old Testament when the reference is to the son of Levi, but the son of Moses in 1 Chr 23.15-16 is spelled Gershom. We recommend doing this in order to avoid confusing the reader.

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 .