And they smote the tents of those who had cattle: And is literally “And also.” Revised Standard Version does not translate the Hebrew word for “also,” although nearly all modern versions do, including New Revised Standard Version. The pronoun they refers to the soldiers of Judah, which New Century Version makes explicit by saying “Asa’s army.” For the verb smote, see the comments on 1 Chr 13.10. The tents of those who had cattle is literally “the tents of cattle.” The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. Many understand it to mean “the tents of those who had cattle.” For this whole clause New Revised Standard Version says “They also attacked the tents of those who had livestock,” and Revised English Bible has “They also killed the herdsmen.” Similar translations include “They attacked also the tents of the cattle-herders” (New American Bible) and “They also routed the cattle-owners” (New Jerusalem Bible). In any case, these people who were attacked were civilians and not part of Zerah’s army.

And carried away sheep in abundance and camels: Carried away should not be understood in the sense of literally carrying the animals in question. Rather, it means that they “captured” these animals and took them away with them when they left. Other translations use verbs such as “took” (Contemporary English Version) and “seized” (Revised English Bible). New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, and La Bible du Semeur render sheep as “sheep and goats” since the Hebrew word here refers to small livestock in general (see the comments on 1 Chr 4.39, where it is rendered “flocks”). For camels see 1 Chr 5.21.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Asa’s army also attacked the camps of some herdsmen, and they took with them many sheep and goats as well as some camels. Then they returned to the city of Jerusalem.

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 .