Then renders the common Hebrew conjunction. It may be taken as a temporal connector here (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), but it may also be omitted (so Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). La Bible du Semeur has “Finally,” which introduces this verse as a conclusion to the section.
The priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people: The priests and the Levites is literally “the priests the Levites” (compare 2 Chr 23.18). The Masoretic Text does not have the conjunction and. In addition, the accents in the Masoretic Text indicate that the later scribes did not understand the text to be referring to two separate groups. Compare “the priests-Levites” (Bible en français courant), and “The Levitical priests” (Moffatt; similarly New Jerusalem Bible). The priests, like the Levites, were descendants of Levi. Here Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the text that reads “the Levitical priests.” But many modern versions follow some Hebrew manuscripts as well as the Vulgate and the ancient Syriac, which say “the priests and the Levites” (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible).
As is often the case, the verb arose is not intended to imply that the religious leaders were seated or lying down before blessing the people. Rather, it indicates that they set themselves to the task of benediction. See the comments on verse 14, where even Revised Standard Version avoids a literal rendering of this verb in a similar context. According to Num 6.23-27, it was the priests who were to bless the people.
And their voice was heard: This passive expression will have to be made active in some languages. The meaning is clearly “and God heard their voices.” New Century Version says “and God heard them.”
And their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven: The pronoun his refers to God, which several versions make explicit (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible). The Hebrew word for habitation refers to the place where a person lives. The place where God lives is qualified in two ways: (1) it is holy, that is, set apart from the ordinary; and (2) it is located in heaven. In some languages it may be more natural to render this whole clause as “God, who was in his own special home in heaven, heard their prayers.”
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 .