Rephah was his son …: The antecedent of the pronoun his is not clear. One interpretation of this clause is that Rephah was another son of Ephraim (so Good News Translation, New Century Version). Beginning with Rephah, a son of Ephraim, nine generations of descendants are listed, through verse 27, according to Good News Translation and New Century Version (also New Living Translation). Another way of expressing this clause is “Another son (of Ephraim) was…” (similarly Einheitsübersetzung).

But it is also possible that Rephah was the son of Beriah, mentioned in verse 23. This second interpretation is followed in Bible en français courant, which reads “The descendants of Beriah, in direct line, were Rephah….” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente also begins this verse by identifying Rephah as the son of Beriah. Another approach is that of Menge, which reads “His (i.e., Beriah’s) son was Rephah….” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has a footnote stating that in the present form of the text, the pronoun his refers to Beriah, but that verses 21-24 seems to interrupt the list of Ephraim’s sons.

Whether interpreters understand the pronoun his to refer to Ephraim or to Beriah, there are various ways in which this may be translated: (1) The pronoun his may be used, which will leave the ambiguity of the Hebrew in many languages. (2) The name may be stated in the text, as in Good News Translation and Bible en français courant. (3) The name may be placed within parentheses, as in Einheitsübersetzung and Menge.

Resheph his son is literally “and Resheph.” A literal translation of this verse in the Masoretic Text is given by Braun: “his son Rephah, Resheph, his son Telah, his son Tahan.” But such a translation makes no sense since the relationship of Resheph to the other names is not made clear. The ancient versions in Greek, Latin, and Aramaic all reflect different ways of interpreting the Masoretic Text. The Masoretic Text is certainly the more difficult reading, and for that reason Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament prefers it, considering the ancient versions as attempts to make sense of the Hebrew. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. Revised Standard Version adds the words his son as the context seems to require. La Bible Pléiade similarly translates this verse as “Rephah his son, Resheph [his son], Telah his son, Tahan his son,” placing the words “his son” in square brackets. However, Moffatt takes Rephah and Resheph as brothers, saying “Rephah and Resheph were his sons, Resheph the father of Telah, the father of Tahan” (similarly American Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Einheitsübersetzung).

However, some interpreters think that the name Resheph was accidentally created by a scribe who repeated letters from the preceding name Rephah. So these interpreters correct the Hebrew text. New Jerusalem Bible, for example, corrects the verse to read “Rephah was his son, Shuthelah his son, Tahan his son” (similarly Klein). New Jerusalem Bible adds the name Shuthelah from verse 20, assuming that a scribe incorrectly wrote Telah for Shuthelah.

It is not possible to know for sure if the Masoretic Text contains the original form of this verse. Nor is it possible to be certain what the intended meaning is. Was Resheph the son or brother of Rephah? Or was the name Resheph created by a scribe’s mistake in copying? Translators must simply choose among the various possible ways of understanding and translating this verse. If they do not follow the Masoretic Text, they should indicate that in a footnote.

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 .

Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy utensils …: Others of them is made quite specific in God’s Word, which says “Other descendants of Korah.” New Century Version has “Other gatekeepers” in keeping with its interpretation that the people mentioned in verses 28-34 were not only Levites, but were also gatekeepers. In some languages the passive verb were appointed must be replaced with an active one. But since no specific agent is named in the text, it will be best to use an indefinite subject for an active verb, beginning this verse with “They appointed others…” or “Someone put others in charge of….” In some languages it will be possible to say “Others had the duty of….”

The Hebrew word rendered furniture is the same one translated utensils in the previous verse and in this verse. Here the reference is probably to certain other items not included in the statement in verse 28. Holy utensils included items such as buckets and shovels.

Also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices: The Hebrew noun translated fine flour refers to flour made from the inner kernels of wheat, which were finely ground. It was used in grain offerings and some other food offerings (see, for example, Lev 2). Wine was used in drink offerings (see Lev 23.13). Oil refers to “olive oil” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation), which was used along with fine flour and incense in some food offerings (see Lev 2). It was also used as fuel in the lamps of the Tabernacle and Temple (see Lev 24.2). The spices were used to make incense (see 2 Chr 2.4), or they were mixed together with oil to form a mixture that was used in the anointing of the priests and in the dedication of various pieces of equipment used in the Tabernacle and Temple (see Exo 30.23-33). These spices included myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia.

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 .

Naarai the son of Ezbai (verse 37): Naarai is called “Paarai” in 2 Sam 23.35. It is possible that the text originally read “Paarai the Arbite,” as in 2 Samuel, and that the reading here in 1 Chronicles is the result of a scribe’s error. In any case, the text here should not be harmonized with the parallel in 2 Samuel.

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 .

Which he confirmed as a statute to Jacob, as an everlasting covenant to Israel: The two lines of this verse are parallel. Jacob and Israel refer to the same patriarch (but see the comments on the next verse). A statute to Jacob and an everlasting covenant to Israel refer to the same agreement (see Gen 28.13-15; 35.11-12). Confirmed is literally “made stand.” New American Bible says “established.” The Hebrew word rendered statute refers to an authoritative statement or a pronouncement of some kind. It may be rendered “law” (New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible) or “decree” (New Living Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), but it is used here as a synonym for covenant.

The Good News Translation rendering of this verse risks being misunderstood as speaking of another covenant different from the one spoken of earlier. So it might be better to say “The LORD renewed this covenant with Jacob, one that will last forever.”

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 I have been with you wherever you went: In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of these two clauses by saying “Everywhere you went, I remained with you.”

And have cut off all your enemies from before you: In this context the verb cut off may be rendered “destroyed” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible) or “defeated” (Good News Translation, New Century Version). A literal rendering is likely to be misunderstood in many languages, although the English idiom “cut down” (New American Bible) may be appropriate in the context of warfare. New Jerusalem Bible uses the expression “got rid of.” The phrase from before you is left untranslated in some versions, but the expression seems to indicate that the destruction of David’s enemies took place in his presence as he moved forward in battle. This phrase may be awkward in some languages if translated literally. Revised English Bible offers a good model with “in your path,” and so does Contemporary English Version with “right in front of your eyes.”

And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth: The form of the Hebrew verb rendered will make may be understood here in two different ways. It may be taken as expressing future tense or past tense. The majority of versions use future tense here, but Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has past tense, rendering the whole clause as “and I have given you fame, like the most important men of the world have” (similarly Contemporary English Version, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous). In this context the word name refers to “reputation” (Bible en français courant) or “fame” (Revised English Bible). The great ones of the earth refers to people who were well known by other people throughout the world. God’s Word speaks of “the greatest people on earth.”

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 .