In the Old Testament the Pathrusim are mentioned only here and in the parallel text of Gen 10.14. However, the place called “Pathros” is mentioned in Isa 11.11; Jer 44.1, 15; Ezek 29.14; 30.14, and in each instance is mentioned along with Egypt. Pathros, which is the Egyptian word for the “southland,” was most likely a region located in southern Egypt between Memphis/Cairo and Aswan.

Casluhim (whence came the Philistines), and Caphtorim: Revised Standard Version follows the Masoretic Text here (also New Century Version, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur). But since Jer 47.4 and Amos 9.7 indicate that the Philistines came from Caphtor, some interpreters correct the text to show that the Philistines came from Caphtor and not from Casluh; for example, New American Bible has “Casluhim, and Caphtorim, from whom the Philistines sprang,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “Casluh and Caphtor, from which the Philistines came.” Other translations that follow this correction are Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Moffatt, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, El libro del Pueblo de Dios, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Beaumont, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous, Osty-Trinquet, and Peregrino.

However, there is no evidence in the Hebrew manuscripts for such a correction, and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament does not consider this to be a textual problem. Furthermore, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament notes that since the Casluhim are not known apart from this verse and the parallel text in Gen 10.14, there is no solid basis for correcting the Masoretic Text here. The parallel in the Masoretic Text of Gen 10.14 also says that the Philistines came from the Casluhim, so it seems likely that the author of 1 Chronicles was simply repeating what his source had written. Translators should follow the Masoretic Text here and may indicate in a footnote that many scholars believe the Philistines came from Caphtor, which probably corresponds to modern Crete.

The Philistines lived in an area along the eastern Mediterranean Sea about 80 kilometers long and 32 kilometers wide (50 miles long and 20 miles wide).

Many translations use the modern name “Crete” instead of Caphtorim or Caphtor (so Good News Translation, International Children’s Bible, Moffatt, La Bible du Semeur, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Beaumont, Peregrino. Others, however, place this information in a footnote since identifying Caphtor as Crete is only probable, not certain.

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 .