This is an account of David’s mighty men: Account is literally “number” (mispar in Hebrew). Braun uses the technical word “roster.” The parallel text in 2 Sam 23.8 has the Hebrew word shemoth (“names”). Some scholars think the word mispar is an error, so they correct the text here to read “These are the names of David’s mighty men” (so La Bible Pléiade). But perhaps the author of 1 Chronicles says “number” because he is focusing on the extent of support for David rather than on the identity of the mighty men who supported David. Since verses 11-47 speak about the mighty warriors mentioned in verse 10, Contemporary English Version begins verse 11 with “The first of these warriors was….” Good News Translation omits the first clause of this verse since it repeats the same essential meaning as found in the beginning of the previous verse.

Jashobe-am, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three: Jashobe-am, a Hachmonite is literally “Jashobeam son of Hachmoni.” It is not clear whether Jashobe-am was a descendant of someone named Hachmoni (so Good News Translation, La Bible du Semeur, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Reina-Valera revisada, Luther) or whether he was from a now unknown people or place named Hachmoni. New Century Version says “Jashobeam was from the Hacmonite people.” Instead of the name Jashobe-am, some Greek manuscripts have the name Iesbaal, which would be the equivalent of the Hebrew name yishbaʿal. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the name should be corrected to read “Yishbaal” and gives a {B} rating to the corrected text. If the Greek form of the name represents the original Hebrew name, then perhaps a scribe copying the Hebrew mistakenly wrote the final letter as “m” rather than “l.” A number of translations have “Ishbaal” (New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, La Bible Pléiade, La Bible des Communautés Chrétiennes, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Herder). It is quite possible that the author of 1 Chronicles followed a Hebrew manuscript that already contained this textual error.

Instead of the three, the Masoretic Text reads “the thirty.” Many translations follow the Septuagint and the parallel text in 2 Sam 23.8 in reading “the three” (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible Pléiade). The three were warriors receiving the highest possible honor in the army of David. If the reading the three is followed, the best way in some languages to show that this was an exclusive and well-known band of fighters will be to say “the three heroes,” “the special group of three warriors,” or “the three most famous soldiers.” Moffatt speaks simply of “the Trio,” but the use of the capital letter indicates that this was somehow a special group.

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, recommends that the marginal reading shalishim (“elite group of warriors”) in the Masoretic Text be followed here and in 1 Chr 12.18 (12.19 in the Masoretic Text) and gives a {C} rating to the recommended text. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the author of 1 Chronicles did not understand that the Hebrew words rosh ha-shalishi meant “member of the Rosh-ha-Shalish” (member of the elite of the guard). So the author changed the singular shalishi to the plural shalishim, giving the meaning “chief [or, head] of the elite guards.” In other words, the Hebrew noun rosh was no longer understood as part of a title but was understood as meaning “chief.” Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie follow the corrected reading in the margin of the Masoretic Text by saying “chief of the guards,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar with “commander of the elite troops of David.”

He wielded his spear against three hundred whom he slew at one time: He wielded his spear is literally “he aroused his spear.” Some versions have “he lifted up his spear” (King James Version, New American Standard Bible). But the central meaning is simply “he used his spear” (New Century Version, Parole de Vie). The spear was a long, straight rod with a sharp end used for piercing by thrusting. Its circumference was less than the grip of a man’s hand, and its length varied from the height of a man to much longer. It was normally made of wood with a metal head or point. In battle the spear was held in the middle and thrust at the enemy. Only rarely was it thrown. Where possible, translators should choose a word or phrase that indicates that this weapon was held and thrust (much like a knife on the end of a stick) rather than thrown.

At one time does not refer to a single moment in time, but to a period of time that probably included a single battle. New International Version has “in one encounter,” while New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates “on one occasion.” In some languages it may be best to say “In one battle” (Contemporary English Version) or “in a single attack” (Peregrino.

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 .