And for the sons of Aaron, the priests: The sons of Aaron is a common expression to refer to the priests, but here both are used. In this context it will be better to translate the sons of Aaron as “the descendants of Aaron” (New International Version; similarly Good News Translation)

Who were in the fields of common land belonging to their cities: The fields of common land refers to the farmland belonging to the Levitical cities. Some of the priests lived inside the city walls and others lived outside in the countryside that was attached to those cities.

There were men in the several cities who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to every one among the Levites who was enrolled: The passive verb were designated may be made active by specifying Hezekiah as the agent. It was he who actually appointed those who would take food and supplies to the priests and Levites.

The meaning of this verse is not clear. According to the interpretation followed by Good News Translation, the priests and Levites received their portions regardless of where they lived, whether they lived in one of the Levitical cities or whether they lived in the pastureland attached to one of these cities. If this interpretation is followed, this verse may be broken into three separate sentences as follows:

• Some of Aaron’s descendants, the priests, lived on the farmlands near the towns assigned to them and others lived in the towns. Hezekiah named some men living in these cities to take food and supplies to them. All the males and those named in the family histories of the Levites received part of the collection.

According to another interpretation, followed by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, this verse states that the priests received their portions regardless of whether they were on duty at the Temple or off duty in their homes, unlike the Levites who received their portion only during the times that they were on duty at the Temple. The interpretation followed by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible for verses 16-19 seems to make the best sense. This interpretation is recommended, and the translation is quoted here:

• 16 moreover, the men already enrolled, from the age of three and up, all those who came to the House of the LORD received each day something for their function in their groups according to their classes. 17 The enrollment of priests was done according to their paternal houses, and that of the Levites, from the age of twenty and up, by groups and by classes. 18 The enrollment was valid for all the family: wives, sons and daughters; it was valid for all the assembly, on the condition that they be faithful and in a state of holiness, 19 and for the priests, the sons of Aaron, living in the country in the territory of each of their villages. Some people designated by name distributed portions to all the men among the priests and to all those enrolled among the Levites.

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 .