This verse provides a detailed description of the background and qualifications of the gifted craftsman whom King Hiram was sending to Solomon.

The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan: It is important for readers to understand that Huram’s mother was an Israelite, which is the sense of this phrase. This information may be made explicit by saying “his mother was an Israelite from the tribe of Dan” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente; similarly Contemporary English Version). Compare also “His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel” (New Living Translation). Since Dan had lived several centuries earlier, Huram was not literally a son of one of Dan’s daughters. Rather, she was from the tribe of Dan (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). However, according to 1 Kgs 7.14, Huram’s mother was from the tribe of Naphtali. Interpreters have made several different suggestions to explain how Huram’s mother could be both a member of the tribe of Dan and a member of the tribe of Naphtali. But such attempts to solve the difference have no bearing on translation. The Hebrew here clearly says that his mother was from the tribe of Dan.

And his father was a man of Tyre: Huram’s father was a Phoenician and not an Israelite. For this clause and the previous one Peregrino says “son of a Danite woman and a Phoenician father,” and Bible en français courant has “He is Tyrian by his father, but originating from the tribe of Dan by his mother.”

He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen: These words echo verse 7 (see the comments there). Stone translates a Hebrew word that is general in meaning. The context usually indicates whether the reference is to ordinary stones or to precious gems. Here some translators believe it refers to “precious stones” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, El libro del Pueblo de Dios). However, this context also allows for understanding it as referring to ordinary stonework. For linen see the comments on 1 Chr 4.21. It was usually a white or cream color since it was hard to dye. For this whole clause New Living Translation says “He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron. He also knows all about stonework, carpentry, and weaving. He is an expert in dyeing purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and in working with linen.”

And to do all sorts of engraving: See the comments on 2Chr 2.7.

And execute any design that may be assigned him: An American Translation says “and to sketch any artistic device that may be assigned to him.” Since the passive verb be assigned (literally “be given”) will be a problem in some languages, another way of expressing this whole clause is “Whatever work a person asks him to do, he can do it.” Contemporary English Version says “And he can carve anything if you give him a pattern to follow.”

With your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father: The Hebrew has the common conjunction between the words your craftsmen and the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version do not translate this conjunction, apparently taking it as a mark of apposition. That is, in these two versions Solomon’s craftsmen are identified with David’s craftsmen (see 1 Chr 22.15-16). However, most versions translate the conjunction as “and,” so that King Hiram refers to two different groups of workers.

The expression my lord, David your father may present problems in some languages. The words my lord are intended to show Hiram’s respect for David. In some languages it may be necessary to say “David, your father, whom I respect greatly” or “the honorable King David, your father.”

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 .