David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah: In Hebrew this verse begins with the words “And he struck” just as the previous verse does. But since this defeat of Hadadezer is one in a series of defeats by David, for reasons of narrative flow in English, Good News Translation begins this verse with the adverb “Next.” New International Version uses the somewhat archaic word “Moreover.” The name Hadadezer means “Hadad is help.” Hadad, the storm god, was the name of the chief deity among the Syrians. Various kings had names composed of this god’s name: Hadadezer, Hadoram (see verse 10), and Ben-hadad (meaning “son of Hadad”; see 1 Kgs 15.18). Some translations here say “Hadarezer” (so Menge). In many Hebrew manuscripts and in some older editions of the Hebrew Bible, this king’s name is “Hadarezer” here in chapters 18 and 19, but in 2 Sam 8.3-12 and 1 Kgs 11.23 his name is “Hadadezer.” It will probably be a good idea to expand the translation of Zobah to include information that would have been known by the original readers or hearers of this text. Zobah was one of the independent city-states of Syria, north of Damascus. For this reason some versions add “the Syrian state of” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). This also ties in with verse 5 and helps the reader to understand why the Syrians of Damascus came to the aid of the people of Zobah.

Toward Hamath: A footnote in New Revised Standard Version states that the meaning of the Hebrew here is uncertain, and this uncertainty is reflected in the different versions. In Hebrew the name Hamath has a final consonant that is usually understood to indicate direction toward (somewhere). This is the basis for the rendering toward Hamath (also New American Bible). New Jerusalem Bible, American Bible, and Bible en français courant are also based on this understanding, but they express the meaning more clearly as “which lies in the direction of Hamath.” However, Revised English Bible takes the name Hamath as part of the name “Zobah-hamath.” Hamath was located about 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Damascus on the Orontes River in Syria.

As he went renders a Hebrew infinitive plus third person suffix, but a literal translation may be ambiguous as to whether the subject is David or Hadadezer. Some English versions show in various ways that the subject is Hadadezer; for example, Revised English Bible has “King Hadadezer … who was on his way” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and New American Bible says “when the latter was on his way” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible). However, it is possible, and perhaps probable, that David is the intended subject of the verb since it seems strange that David and Hadadezer would have met if Hadadezer was the subject. Israel was to the south of Zobah, while the Euphrates River was to the north. So if Hadadezer had traveled north, he would not likely have encountered David and his troops. Most English versions reproduce the pronoun and leave the meaning of the text ambiguous. However, if the pronoun stands for Hadadezer, the proper name Hadadezer should be used (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant).

To set up his monument: The meaning of this phrase is debatable. While many versions take it to mean “to set up his monument” (Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), others take it to mean “to establish his dominion” (American Bible, Bible en français courant), “to establish his rule” (New American Standard Bible), or “to assert his rule” (New Jerusalem Bible). The Hebrew word for monument is literally “hand,” which is often used for power, but sometimes refers to a physical monument that is symbolic of power and indicates the boundaries of a ruler’s kingdom. The Hebrew noun for “hand” occurs with the meaning “monument” in 1 Sam 15.12, where Saul set up a monument for himself in order to celebrate his victory over the Amalekites. This monument probably consisted of stones that were placed one on top of another (see also 2 Sam 18.18, where the same word refers to a pillar erected by Absalom). For his monument, Revised English Bible says “his monument of victory.” Other renderings include “his victory stele” (New American Bible) and “his stela” (Knoppers). Given the symbolism of the act of setting up a monument, it is probably best to translate the idea of power in any case.

At the river Euphrates: The preposition in this expression will probably have to be clarified in most languages. The reference is to a location or a stretch of land adjacent to the upper part of the Euphrates River. Bible en français courant says “in the region of the Euphrates.”

In some languages it will be more natural to restructure this whole verse by moving the reference to the Euphrates River forward and leaving the idea of Hadadezer’s defeat to the end of the verse. Contemporary English Version provides a possible model:

• While King Hadadezer of Zobah was trying to gain control of the territory near the Euphrates River, David met him in battle at Hamath and defeated him.

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 .

And the Syrians fled before Israel: Depending on how the end of the previous verse is translated, a conjunction such as “but” (Bible en français courant) may be more appropriate here than And. The Syrians first attacked but then retreated. This reversal of fortune may be highlighted by the transition word chosen here.

And David slew of the Syrians … and killed also …: The writer maintains the focus on David, but it is not likely that David alone killed all of these Syrian soldiers. For this reason some translations say “David and his men” (Good News Translation) or “David and his troops” (Bible en français courant). The verbs slew and killed translate two different verbs in the Hebrew and the second is more literally “caused to die,” but the meaning is virtually identical and they may be translated the same in the receptor language as most modern English versions do.

The men of seven thousand chariots is literally “seven thousand chariot.” Revised Standard Version supplies the men of as the context requires. The word “chariot” is singular, but is used collectively to refer to a group of chariots. The parallel passage in 2 Sam 10.18 has “the men of seven hundred chariots.” While New Jerusalem Bible speaks of “seven thousand of their chariot teams,” most versions take this to mean seven thousand individual chariot drivers. Both interpretations are possible, and translators may follow either. For forty thousand foot soldiers, Revised English Bible has “forty thousand infantry.” Other possible renderings are “… walking soldiers” and “… soldiers who had no horses.” As noted in 1 Chr 19.7, translators will need to decide whether it is better to write out these numbers as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation or to write the numbers 7,000 and 40,000.

Shophach the commander of their army is rendered simply “General Shobach” by Bible en français courant since verse 16 has already identified him.

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 .

But King David said to Ornan: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered But (also Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) marks contrast here. David refuses to accept the threshing floor and other items as gifts. He wants to pay for them. While the Hebrew text has the full form King David, some translators have shortened it by using only the title, “the king” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Bible en français courant), or only the name, “David” (Contemporary English Version). Whichever seems more natural in the receptor language will be acceptable. The verb said may be rendered “replied” (Contemporary English Version) or “answered” (Good News Translation) in this context.

No, but I will buy it for the full price: The word No implies that David does not want the threshing floor and other items as gifts. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “No, I don’t want gifts.” I will buy it is literally “to buy I will buy,” which means “I will surely buy.” Revised Standard Version has added the object pronoun it. But since what follows shows that David intended to pay not just for the threshing floor but also for the oxen, threshing boards and wheat, it is better to say “I will buy them” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). As in verse 22, full price is literally “full silver.”

I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings which cost me nothing: New Century Version says “I won’t take anything that is yours and give it to the LORD. I won’t offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

In languages where direct quotations present problems, translators may consider the following model for this verse:

• But King David refused and told Ornan that he would buy them for the full price because he did not want to take for the LORD what belonged to Ornan and he did not want to offer to the LORD burnt offerings that cost him nothing.

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 .

These divisions of the gatekeepers refers to those men just mentioned in verses 1-11.

Corresponding to their chief men is literally “to the heads of the men.” New Living Translation says “were named for their family leaders,” and Revised English Bible has “The male heads of families constituted.”

Had duties: The verb had is supplied by Revised Standard Version. Elsewhere, Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew word rendered duties as “charge” (Gen 26.5; Lev 18.30) and “offices” (2 Chr 31.16-17). Other possible translations are “responsibilities” and “watches” (New American Bible). In some languages the most natural equivalent may be simply “work.”

Just as their brethren did, ministering in the house of the LORD: These words in Hebrew may be understood in two different ways:

• (1) They may mean that these Temple guards also had duties in the Temple just as other Levites did who had different functions in the Temple. This interpretation is clearly reflected in New Jerusalem Bible, which renders this verse as “These orders of gatekeepers, allocated according to their headmen, had duties, just like their brothers, of serving in the house of Yahweh.”

• (2) But these words may also mean that these Temple guards were all assigned shifts in the same way; that is, the comparison may be within the groups of gatekeepers and may not be a comparison with the Levites who had other duties. New American Bible, for example, says “To these classes of gatekeepers, under their chief men, were assigned watches in the service of the house of the LORD, for each group in the same way.”

The word brethren is better rendered “relatives” (New International Version) or “kinsmen” (Revised English Bible) in this context. Good News Translation translates their brethren generally as “the other Levites” (also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). This phrase may refer specifically to the singers, who numbered four thousand, just as the gatekeepers did, according to 1 Chr 23.4.

The passive expression “were assigned duties” will have to be made active in some languages if the Good News Translation model is followed. Since there is no way of knowing exactly who made the assignments, some languages will say simply “received assignments” or “accepted work.”

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 .

Regarding the census in verses 23-24, see chapter 21.

David did not number those below twenty years of age: Verses 23-24 are loosely connected to the preceding verses. The beginning of verse 23 in the Hebrew reads “And David did not take their number from twenty years old and under.” The pronoun “their” has no clear antecedent. The natural antecedent is “the leaders of the tribes of Israel,” but clearly the reference is to all Israel and not just the leaders. Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation (nor most other translations) translates the Hebrew pronoun for “their.” The Hebrew text does not qualify David as “King” here in verse 23, but does so in verse 24. However, in some languages it may be advisable to follow the example of Good News Translation, which adds the word “King” in this verse. This whole clause may be rendered “King David counted only those who were twenty years old or older.”

For the LORD had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven: See Gen 15.5; 22.17; 26.4. This clause explains why David did not take a census for those people under the age of twenty, so the Hebrew connector rendered for is significant. New International Version uses the conjunction “because.” But the logic here may not be clear to all readers. According to Num 1.3, Moses was told to take a census of every male twenty years old and older who was able to serve in the military. The LORD had promised is literally “the LORD had said,” but most English versions as well as La Bible du Semeur use the verb “promised” because of the context. Bible en français courant has the verb “announced.” Israel may be rendered “the people of Israel” (Good News Translation) or “the Israelites” (Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

New Century Version reverses the order of the two halves of this verse, saying “The LORD had promised to make the Israelites as many as the stars in the sky. So David only counted the men who were twenty years old and older.”

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 .

Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD: The people refers to all the people of Israel, while these refers to the their leaders (see verse 6). The Hebrew verb rendered had given willingly is the same one translated had offered freely. It is the same verb that occurs in verses 5 and 6. The words with a whole heart serve to reinforce the meaning (see the comments on 1 Chr 28.9). Moffatt says “without grudging.” Another translation that correctly expresses the meaning is “in the loyalty of their hearts” (Revised English Bible). The Hebrew conjunction rendered for is an emphatic particle here, so it is better translated “indeed” or “truly.” New Century Version expresses well the meaning of the first half of this verse by saying “The leaders gave freely and completely to the LORD. The people were happy to see their leaders give so gladly.”

David the king also rejoiced greatly is literally “and also David the king rejoiced [with] a great joy.”

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 .