And David built there an altar to the LORD and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered And may be taken as a temporal connector (New American Bible “then”) or it may be left untranslated. The text says that David made the sacrifices, but it is possible that the writer meant that David had a priest offer these sacrifices. In languages that have a causative form of the verb, that verb form would be used here if David himself did not offer the sacrifices. But since the text does not mention any priest, it will be better to say that David offered the sacrifices. Burnt offerings were animal “offerings that were completely burnt” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje; see verse 23). Peace offerings were sacrifices in which only a part of the animal was burned on the altar; the rest was eaten by the worshipers (see the comments on 1 Chr 16.1). In addition to peace offerings (also New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), other translations include “fellowship offerings” (Good News Translation, La Bible du Semeur), “offerings of well-being” (New Revised Standard Version), “shared-offerings” (Revised English Bible), and “reconciliation sacrifices” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

And called upon the LORD may be translated “and he prayed to the Lord” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente; similarly Good News Translation, Nueva Versión Internacional, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).

And he answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering: The fire from heaven was a sign of God’s approval of David’s choice of the place as the site of the future Temple (compare Lev 9.24; 2 Chr 7.1). The reason that God sent fire may be made explicit as in Good News Translation: “to burn the sacrifices” (also Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje)

At the end of this verse some translations add with the Septuagint “and [it] consumed the burnt offering” (American Bible, La Bible Pléiade; similarly Knoppers). It is possible that a scribe accidentally omitted these words when his eye skipped from the first occurrence of burnt offering to the second occurrence. Even if the shorter Masoretic Text is followed, the Septuagint simply makes explicit what is implicit in the Hebrew.

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 .

Verses 12-20 list the descendants of Kohath, one of Levi’s three sons (verse 6).

The sons of Kohath … four: Kohath’s four sons were listed earlier in 1 Chr 6.2. As in previous verses, the number is given at the end of the verse, but it will be more natural in some languages to put this information near the beginning (so Good News Translation). This is done even in rather literal English versions such as New American Standard Bible.

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 .

Delaiah and Ma-aziah are literally “Delayahu” and “Maazyahu.”

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 .

The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah: The lot … fell to focuses on the result of the drawing of lots. Another way of expressing this whole clause is “The drawing showed that Shelemiah would guard the east gate.” A similar expression might also be used for the other gates in the following verses. Shelemiah is called “Meshelemiah” in verses 1, 2, and 9; and several modern translations read “Meshelemiah” here also for the sake of clarity (so New Living Translation, New Century Version, New American Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Bible en français courant keeps the name Shelemiah here but explains in a footnote that this is the same person as Meshelemiah in verses 1 and 9 (similarly Contemporary English Version, New International Version).

They cast lots also for his son Zechariah: There were four gates but only three groups, those headed by Meshelemiah, Obed Edom and Hosah. So Shelemiah and his son Zechariah were assigned to guard different gates.

A shrewd counselor: The word shrewd may have a negative connotation in English. The Hebrew is better translated “wise” (New International Version), “clever” (American Bible), or “prudent” (New Revised Standard Version). The word counselor may also be rendered “adviser.” For this whole phrase New Living Translation has “a man of unusual wisdom,” and New American Standard Bible says “a counselor with insight.”

And his lot came out for the north: The Hebrew expression rendered lot came out has the same basic meaning as the one translated The lot … fell to.

It may be helpful in other languages to follow the model of Good News Translation and make it clear that for the east and for the north refer to the gates to the east and north of the Temple. Good News Translation adds the word “gate” each time (so also Revised English Bible).

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 .

Ahithophel was the king’s counselor: Since some versions identify Jonathan as one of the king’s counselors in the previous verse, those same versions add the word “also” or “another” here. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, for example, has “Another counselor of the king was Ahithophel” (similarly Nueva Versión Internacional), and Bible en français courant says “Ahithophel was also a counselor to the king.” Regarding Ahithophel, see 2 Sam 16.23; 17.23.

And Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend: Regarding Hushai, see 2 Sam 15.32-37; 17.5-16. Most readers will not know what the Archite means, so a literal translation may have little or no meaning. The Septuagint understood this term to mean “the first [friend of the king].” But no modern version follows this interpretation. According to Josh 16.2, the Archites lived between Bethel and Ataroth, which were towns in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, so they may been a clan of this tribe. New Century Version says “from the Arkite people.” God’s Word has “a descendant of Archi,” which may express the correct meaning; but a translation such as that in New Century Version is preferable since there is no way to know if there was ever an ancestor named “Archi.”

The king’s friend is literally “friend of the king” (see 2 Sam 15.37; 1 Kgs 4.5). Almost certainly the Hebrew word translated friend is a technical term in this context borrowed from Egyptian court titles and refers to a court official who served as the king’s confidential adviser. Evidence for such a title is found in ancient documents from Egypt and Ugarit. For this reason the king’s friend is better rendered “private counselor of the king” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), “the king’s confidant” (New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy; similarly La Bible du Semeur), “the king’s confidential adviser” (Moffatt), or “the king’s friend and confidant” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible uses the word “friend” in the text but states in a footnote that this term “has a technical sense here; it is the title given to a confidant or counselor of the king.” If translators choose to keep the word “friend” in the text, then they should consider explaining the meaning in a footnote, as Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has done. Revised English Bible takes a different approach, indicating that this is a title by capitalizing it: “the king’s Friend.” But translators should not rely on use of footnotes or capital letters to convey the meaning of this word. It will be best to follow the examples of Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and state the meaning clearly in the text.

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 .

Both riches and honor come from thee: The Hebrew noun translated honor may also mean “reputation” or “importance” in some contexts. In other contexts it may mean “riches” or “wealth.” Either reading makes sense in this context. If it means “wealth” here, then it is used as a synonym with the word translated riches. But the majority of versions take it in the sense of “honor” or “glory” (La Bible du Semeur). Instead of saying come from thee (literally “from before you”), some translators may find it more natural to restructure the whole clause by saying “You alone give riches and honor” or “You only are the source of riches and honor.” Compare “You are the source of wealth and honor” ( NET Bible).

And thou rulest over all may be rendered “You rule everything” (New Century Version, God’s Word) or “You have dominion over all” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

In thy hand are power and might: The expression In thy hand occurs twice in this verse. Both times it refers to God’s power. In some languages it will be better not to translate either one literally; for example, this clause may be translated “You are powerful and mighty.”

And in thy hand it is to make great and to give strength to all may be rendered “and it is in Your power to make anyone great and strong” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or simply “and you are able to make anyone great and strong” (Good News Translation; similarly American Bible). Revised English Bible says “yours it is to give power and strength to all.” New Century Version combines this clause with the previous one, saying “You have the power and strength to make anyone great and strong.”

Contemporary English Version has restructured this verse, connecting the idea of God’s reign with the previous verse as follows: “and you rule with strength and power. You make people rich and powerful and famous.”

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 .

They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: The pronoun They refers to King Solomon’s agents mentioned in the previous verse. Bible en français courant makes this clear by rendering the pronoun as “These merchants.” Imported is literally “brought up and brought out.” Jewish Publication Version translates “fetched up, and brought out” (similarly King James Version), but Revised Standard Version‘s simple rendering expresses the meaning correctly. A chariot and a horse obviously do not mean that they imported only one chariot and one horse. Rather, the singular is used to indicate the price per item. In some languages it will be more natural to say “each chariot” and “each horse” or simply “chariots” and “horses.” Naturalness in the receptor language will be the determining factor in deciding which forms are used.

The word shekels is not in the Hebrew text, but this is what is clearly implied. 1 Chr 21.25 refers of “shekels of gold” (see the comments there), but the text here says shekels of silver. The shekel was the standard unit of weight in the Old Testament. The name comes from the Hebrew root meaning “to weigh.” The modern equivalent of a shekel is 11.4 grams (.4 ounces). Here the expression six hundred shekels of silver refers to an amount of money, so Good News Translation and Bible en français courant say “600 pieces of silver.” Contemporary English Version expresses this amount in terms of weight, saying “about fifteen pounds of silver.” This would be a little less than seven kilograms in the metric system. Contemporary English Version translates a hundred and fifty as “almost four pounds,” which would be nearly two kilograms. Translators should not use the names of modern currency since their values change from time to time and place to place. Berkeley, for example, says “400 dollars in silver” and “100 [dollars],” and Peregrino has “six hundred pesos” and “a hundred and fifty pesos.”

Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria: Likewise renders the common Hebrew conjunction and the adverb meaning “in like manner.” Revised English Bible translates “in the same way,” and La Bible du Semeur has “under the same conditions.” New International Version says simply “also.” Through them these were exported is literally “by their hands they brought out.” The passive expression in Revised Standard Version may be rendered actively by saying “they [the king’s traders] exported them [horses and chariots].” The Hittites had a kingdom that was located between the Orontes and Euphrates rivers, in what is now modern Turkey. But some small groups of Hittites settled in Israel. At the time of Solomon their empire was at the height of its power although it was eventually overcome by the Assyrians. Syria is literally “Aram” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible; see the comments on 1 Chr 18.5). Aram consisted of several city-states and kingdoms, such as Aram-naharaim, Aram-zobah, Aram-maacah, and Damascus. Some versions render kings of Syria as “kings of the Arameans” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “Aramean kings” (New American Bible), but it will probably be best to use the modern name Syria (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) since Aram corresponds to that same area. The meaning of this last half of the verse is expressed clearly in New Jerusalem Bible as “They [King Solomon’s dealers] also supplied the Hittite and Aramaean kings, who all used them as middlemen.” New Living Translation also clearly expresses the meaning with “Many of these were then resold to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.”

The Hebrew of this verse allows for several rather different interpretations, including the following:

• (1) According to one interpretation, the Israelite traders paid 600 silver shekels of silver for each chariot and 150 silver shekels for each horse that they imported, but the amount paid by the Hittite and Syrian kings is not stated (so Revised Standard Version).

• (2) Others understand the Hebrew to mean that Solomon’s traders paid the same price for horses and chariots that were imported and kept in Israel by the king and for the horses and chariots that were imported and then sold to the Hittite and Syrian kings. Probably they sold the horses and chariots to the Hittites and the Syrians for a profit. God’s Word, for example, translates the end of this verse as “For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.”

• (3) However, according to Good News Translation, the amounts listed in this verse are not the price that Solomon’s traders paid for the horses and chariots but rather the prices at which they sold chariots and horses to the Hittite and Syrian kings. New American Bible also expresses this sense by rendering verses 16-17 as “16 Solomon also imported horses from Egypt and Cilicia. The king’s agents would acquire them by purchase from Cilicia, 17 and would then bring up chariots from Egypt and export them at six hundred silver shekels, with the horses going for a hundred and fifty shekels. At these rates they served as middlemen for all the Hittite and Aramean kings.”

• (4) Yet other interpreters understand the Hebrew to mean that Solomon’s agents charged the Hittite and Syrian kings the same amount that they paid, so that the agents were not making a profit on the horses and chariots sold to the Hittites and Syrians. Anchor Bible, for example, says “They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver and a horse [from Cilicia] for one hundred and fifty shekels and thus [at that price] they conveyed them through their agents to the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram” (similarly BTI).

In most English versions verse 17 is the final verse of chapter 1. In other translations (such as New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, and most French versions, which follow the verse numbering in Hebrew), chapter 1 continues through verse 18, which is the first verse of chapter 2 in Revised Standard Version. Therefore there is a difference of one verse throughout chapter 2 between the different versions. This Handbook follows the commonly used system of the majority of English versions. Beginning in chapter 3, the verse numbers in English and the Masoretic Text are the same again.

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 .