The Ammonite soldiers stationed themselves outside their capital city of Rabbah, while their Syrian allies stationed themselves out in the open country to attack the Israelite army from the rear.

The Ammonites came out: The Ammonites may be rendered “The Ammonite troops” (New Living Translation) or “The army of Ammon” (similarly Complete Jewish Bible). The verb came out implies that the Ammonite soldiers left the confines of the city. In many languages it will be necessary to say “came out of the city” or “left behind the city walls.”

Drew up in battle array may be rendered “arranged themselves in their battle positions,” “set themselves in battle formation,” “got ready for battle” (International Children’s Bible), or “prepared to fight the battle.” The Hebrew verb here has the connotation of putting things in rows.

At the entrance of the city: The name of the city of Rabbah is not specifically mentioned in the text until the beginning of the next chapter. But there is little doubt that this passage is talking about the defense of the Ammonites’ capital city, which was located about 37 kilometers (23 miles) northeast of the Dead Sea. In fact, Rabbah is the only city mentioned in the Bible as being Ammonite. Today it is called Amman and is the capital of Jordan. By adding the name “Rabbah,” Good News Translation provides more explicit information than is found in the Hebrew, but the original readers would have understood this. Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente say “their capital” instead of the city. For this whole phrase New International Version says “at the entrance to their city.”

And the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country: Good News Translation makes explicit why these Syrian kings and their armies had come by adding the words “to help.” Bible en français courant goes a bit further in saying “to help them.” Were by themselves means they were separate from the Ammonite soldiers. The Hebrew noun translated the open country usually stands in opposition to the cities and highways (see, for example, Jdg 20.31). This noun refers to places away from where large groups of people are usually found (see 1 Sam 30.11). It also implies that there are probably no forests in the immediate vicinity. Contemporary English Version translates “the open fields.” International Children’s Bible renders this clause as a separate sentence, saying “The kings who had come to help stayed out in the fields by themselves.”

Contemporary English Version keeps clear the two groups of soldiers in this verse by saying “The Ammonite troops marched to the entrance of the city and prepared for battle, while the Syrian troops took their positions in the open fields.”

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 God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: Instead of the word God (which follows the Hebrew text literally), Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version use the pronoun “he,” because the subject of the previous verse is “the LORD.” Most translations keep the word God; but if there is any danger that readers will think that “the LORD” in the previous verse and God in this verse refer to different beings, it is acceptable to substitute the pronoun as Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have done. Another possibility is to repeat “the LORD” here as Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie have done. The Hebrew has no definite article with the word for angel, so a number of versions make it indefinite by saying “an angel” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, El libro del Pueblo de Dios). But some interpreters argue that the context requires a translation such as “his angel” or “the angel” in English since this angel was responsible for the epidemic that had been inflicted on the rest of the land.

But when he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw: The words the LORD saw are an allusion to Gen 22.14, where God is called “the LORD who sees” (Yahweh-jireh). But some languages will require an object for the verb saw. If an object must be supplied, these two clauses may be rearranged by saying “but when the LORD saw what the angel was about to do.”

And he repented of the evil: The Israelites were not afraid to say that God regretted a prior decision (Gen 6.6; 1 Sam 15.10, 35) or that he changed his mind (Exo 32.14; Amos 7.3, 6). Translators should therefore not attempt to weaken the meaning of the Hebrew verb rendered repented. Here it carries the idea of feeling sorry or regretting a course of action taken or about to be taken. While it may present theological problems for some translators to say that God repented of the evil (compare Exo 32.14), it is clearly what the text says and must therefore be translated. Here the death of the people of Israel is seen as an evil that the LORD originally intended but eventually regretted. Some translations that weaken the sense of the Hebrew are “relented concerning the calamity” (New Revised Standard Version), “decided against the calamity” (New American Bible), “and changed his mind about the disaster [which he had threatened]” (American Bible), and “felt sorry about the calamity” (New Jerusalem Bible). Knox says “was moved with pity over their great calamity.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is a little better with “renounced further punishment.”

And he said to the destroying angel, “It is enough; now stay your hand”: The Hebrew word rendered It is enough is literally “Many,” but it is sometimes used to express the idea of sufficiency or adequacy. This word provides the reason for the command that follows, but it is at the same time an order to stop. In some languages it will be best translated “Stop!” Now stay your hand is a command to the angel to stop what he was doing (compare the similar expression in Dan 4.35). Once again the word hand is used in the sense of power. Good News Translation, like some other versions, reverses the order of the two elements in the direct quotation so that the command to cease comes first and then the reason is given. This order may be more natural in some other languages. In some languages it will be more appropriate to make this direct quotation indirect by saying “and he told the angel who was killing the people to stop because enough had already died.”

And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered And may be translated “At that moment” (New Living Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nueva Versión Internacional, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). For threshing floor, see the comments on 1 Chr 13.9. Ornan is called “Araunah” in the parallel text of 2 Sam 24. Some versions use the same form of the name here as in 2 Samuel (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). The Jebusites were the original non-Israelite natives of Jerusalem (see 1 Chr 11.4). Bible en français courant and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy render the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite as “the place where the Jebusite Ornan was threshing wheat,” but such a translation fails to indicate that Ornan was the owner of this place. Ornan’s threshing floor was on the hill outside the old city of Jerusalem; it was the place where Solomon later built the Temple (see 1 Chr 22.1; 2 Chr 3.1).

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 .

Revised Standard Version preserves the form of the Hebrew in which David addresses the people in the second person plural at the beginning of the verse and then switches to the third person at the end of the verse, his people. In order to avoid confusion for the English reader, Good News Translation maintains the second person throughout the entire verse.

Good News Translation adds “He said” at the beginning of this verse for clarity and for reasons of English style. This quote frame introduces David’s words to the leaders of Israel. Contemporary English Version is similar with “David said,” and so is NET Bible with “He told them.”

Is not the LORD your God with you?: David is not really asking a question here, but he is actually affirming God’s presence (compare verse 11). This rhetorical question may be rendered as a statement (so Good News Translation, New Living Translation, New Century Version).

And has he not given you peace on every side?: This is another rhetorical question that may be rendered as a statement (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version). Revised Standard Version uses the past tense here (also Good News Translation, Nueva Versión Internacional). However, other versions use the future tense; for example, Revised English Bible has “Will he not give you peace on every side?” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “and He will give you rest on every side.” Peace is literally “rest” as in verse 9. The language of “rest” from Israel’s enemies reminds the reader of passages such as Deut 12.10 and Josh 21.44. On every side may refer to the surrounding countries and be translated “on all your borders” (La Bible du Semeur) or “with the surrounding nations” (New Living Translation). But since the next sentence refers to people who used to live in Israel, this phrase probably does not include foreign countries.

For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand: The Hebrew word translated land sometimes refers to the “earth,” but the context here excludes such a broad reference. The phrase the inhabitants of the land may be interpreted in at least two different ways: (1) Perhaps David is referring to all those who lived in the land of Canaan before the Israelites came. This seems to be the sense of Good News Translation, which says “the people who used to live in this land” (similarly Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur). (2) It is also possible that the Hebrew phrase here refers to “the surrounding nations” (New Living Translation) or “the inhabitants of the region” ( NET Bible, Nueva Versión Internacional). Into my hand may be rendered “into my power” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Nueva Versión Internacional, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

And the land is subdued before the LORD and his people: The Hebrew verb rendered is subdued often expresses the idea of excessive use of power. It is used of subduing nations as well as of subduing or violating a woman (Est 7.8). Since this is a passive verb, many languages will require an active form. Other translations include “lies conquered” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “is subject” (New International Version). New Century Version turns this sentence around and renders it more dynamically, saying “The LORD and his people are in control of this land.” In this context his people could also be understood to mean “his army.” Good News Translation renders his people as “you” since David is addressing their leaders. Good News Translation maintains second person for the Israelite leaders throughout this verse in order to avoid confusion for the English reader.

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 .

As for the divisions of the gatekeepers …: Verses 1-9 list the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah. Two major groups within the clan of Korah are listed, represented by Meshelemiah and Obed Edom (but see the comments regarding Obed Edom’s genealogy in 1 Chr 26.4). For gatekeepers see the comments on 1 Chr 9.17. Revised English Bible says “door-keepers.” Good News Translation has made it explicit that these gatekeepers were Levites and that they were guards at the Temple.

The Korahites refers to descendants of Korah. According to Num 16.1, Korah was a descendant of Kohath, one of Levi’s sons. Meshelemiah is called “Shelemiah” in verse 14 (see the comments there). This may be a variant of the name “Shallum” in 1 Chr 9.17 (see also Ezra 2.42; Neh 7.45). Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, as well as nearly all other versions, read Meshelemiah as in 1 Chr 9.21, even though in the Hebrew text the name here, and in verses 2 and 9, is “Meshelemyahu” (La Bible du Semeur, La Bible Pléiade, Chouraqui).

Asaph was the leader of one of the groups of Temple singers and was a descendant of Gershon, another of Levi’s sons (see 1 Chr 6.39-43). So the name Asaph is surprising here since (1) he was a descendant of Gershon and not of Kohath, and (2) according to 1 Chr 9.19, Kore was the son of Ebiasaph (see also Exo 6.24). This difficulty is removed in the Septuagint, which has a corrupted form of the name “Ebiasaph” here instead of Asaph. According to 1 Chr 6.23 and 37-38, Ebiasaph, not Asaph, was a descendant of Korah. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends that the Masoretic Text here be corrected to read “Ebiasaph” instead of Asaph and gives a {C} rating to the recommended reading. A number of versions correct the Masoretic Text here to read “Ebiasaph” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, La Bible Pléiade, El libro del Pueblo de Dios, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Osty-Trinquet) or “Abiasaph” (New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Such a correction brings the genealogy in line with 9.19 and Exo 6.24. It is also possible that Asaph is simply an abbreviated form of the name “Ebiasaph,” but in any case, this Asaph is not the same person as the Temple musician named Asaph.

Bible en français courant provides a helpful model for expressing the meaning of this verse and the beginning of the next one, saying “1 The gatekeepers also formed groups. Meshelemiah, son of Kore and grandson of Abiasaph, from the clan of Kore 2 had seven sons…” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

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 .

Asahel (verse 7), who is mentioned in 1 Chr 11.26, was killed before David became king of the whole country (see 2 Sam 2.18-23), and his son took his place.

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 David said to Solomon his son: Since David had already told Solomon to “be strong, and do it” (verse 10), Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch begins this verse with “Once more David said to his son Solomon.” Since Solomon has already been identified in this section as David’s son, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy omits the words his son here.

Be strong and of good courage, and do it: See the comments on verse 10 and 1 Chr 22.13.

For the LORD God, even my God, is with you: See the comments on 1 Chr 17.2.

Fear not, be not dismayed: See the comments on 1 Chr 22.13.

He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished: Compare Deut 31.6, 8. The word until does not imply that God will forsake Solomon once the Temple has been built. Since the word until may convey incorrect meaning, New Living Translation provides a better model here with “He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch also expresses the correct meaning with “He will not forsake you and will not leave you in the lurch, but he will help you to complete all this work on his Temple.” Yet another possible model is “He will be with you throughout the entire project of building the Temple. He will never leave you or fail to help you.” All the work for the service of the house of the LORD refers to the work of building the Temple. In verse 13 and 1 Chr 9.13, a similar expression refers to the rituals of worship rather than the building of the Temple.

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 .

Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD: Moreover (also New Revised Standard Version, King James Version) translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which many other versions leave untranslated here (so New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, La Bible du Semeur). Revised Standard Version uses the conjunction Moreover here since the writer is stating that the bronze altar as well as the Tabernacle was still in Gibeon. Revised English Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh express it with the adverb “also.” Translations such as “Now” (NASB) and “But” (New Living Translation, Bible en français courant) do not seem to fit the context as well. The bronze altar was not the incense altar within the Tabernacle, but the altar for burnt offerings which was located in the middle of the courtyard in front of the Tabernacle (see the comments on 1 Chr 6.49). Bronze was a metal alloy consisting mostly of copper. The copper was mixed with another metal, usually tin, but sometimes with silver or lead. The bronze was almost twice as hard as copper alone. For the translation of the word bronze, see the comments on 1 Chr 15.19. According to Exo 27.1-2, this altar was made of acacia wood and covered with bronze.

The work of Bezalel is described in Exo 31.1-5 and 35.30–36.1. The son of Uri, son of Hur may be rendered “the son of Uri and the grandson of Hur” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Contemporary English Version omits these words in the text but includes them in a footnote. Such a shortening of the text is not recommended since the ancestors of Bezalel have not been mentioned previously in 2 Chronicles. For Bezalel … had made, Good News Translation uses the passive expression “had been made by Bezalel”; but in many languages where passive forms are rare or unknown, the form of the Hebrew will be followed here.

The adverb there refers to Gibeon, as in verses 3 and 6. In some languages the meaning may be much clearer if this is made explicit by saying “in/at Gibeon” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Revised English Bible). Some Hebrew manuscripts have “he put” (sam) instead of there (sham). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament states that it is impossible to know for sure which reading is original, but since the textual evidence is better for the adverb there, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament expresses a slight preference for this reading, giving it a {D} rating. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the reading “he [David] put” was a theological correction made in order to place Solomon’s activity in verses 7-12 in Jerusalem. According to Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament‘s understanding of the correction, verse 4 says David had brought up the ark from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem and had set up a tent for it, and verse 5 says David had also put the bronze altar in Jerusalem. The purpose of such a change was to show that Solomon offered sacrifices in Jerusalem (see the comments on verse 13 also). Most versions agree with the recommendation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament that the original text read there (referring to Gibeon), but some follow the reading “he put” (with David as the subject). New American Bible, for example, renders the first sentence of this verse as “The bronze altar made by Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, he put in front of the LORD’s Dwelling on the high place.” But the New American Bible rendering keeps this event in Gibeon rather than in Jerusalem at a later time.

And Solomon and the assembly sought the LORD: For the assembly, see the comments on 2Chr 1.3. This phrase may be rendered “all the people” (Good News Translation) or “all the people who had gathered.” Sought the LORD is literally “sought it/him.” The Hebrew text does not have the LORD. Rather, there is only a singular pronoun, which may be understood as referring either to the altar or to Yahweh. Because of this ambiguity in the Hebrew text, New Revised Standard Version says “inquired at it,” indicating that they inquired at the altar. Other versions that follow this interpretation are Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. But many versions take the pronoun as referring to Yahweh (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, El libro del Pueblo de Dios). Either interpretation is possible and acceptable. Translators must simply choose one meaning unless the receptor language allows for the same ambiguity as the Hebrew.

Since the verb sought may be misunderstood in the sense of looking for something that is lost, a different verb should probably be used in many languages. However, the verb chosen will be determined by the way in which the pronoun is interpreted. If the pronoun is taken as referring to Yahweh, then the verb may be “consulted” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Bible en français courant) or “worshiped” (Good News Translation, New Century Version). This interpretation is preferable, since 1-2 Chronicles often speaks of “seeking the LORD” or “seeking God.” However, if the pronoun is taken as referring to the altar, then it will be better to say “resorted to” (Revised English Bible) or “inquired at” (New Revised Standard Version).

Contemporary English Version combines and restructures verses 2-5 to give the background information first. Contemporary English Version has made a number of exegetical decisions about the meaning of various phrases and clauses in these verses which may be different from the decisions made by translators working on these verses, but it may be a helpful model for some languages. Its rendering for these verses is:

• At that time, the sacred tent that Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the desert was still kept at Gibeon, and in front of the tent was the bronze altar that Bezalel* had made.
One day, Solomon told the people of Israel, the army commanders, the officials, and the family leaders, to go with him to the place of worship at Gibeon, even though his father King David had already moved the sacred chest from Kiriath-Jearim to the tent that he had set up for it in Jerusalem. Solomon and the others went to Gibeon to worship the LORD….
*Bezalel: Hebrew “Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur.”

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 .