The Hebrew does not indicate when this event happened. It begins with the common Hebrew conjunction (literally “And”). Good News Translation introduces the verse by adding “One day” (also Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, La Bible du Semeur). Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente begins with “Another time,” and Menge says “Once.” At the very least, translators should start a new paragraph with this verse in order to ensure that the reader does not take this as a continuation of the previous story.

Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam: Three of the thirty chief men agrees with the parallel in the Masoretic Text at 2 Sam 23.13. However, in that passage Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends that the Masoretic Text be corrected to read “three of the elite troops [who served directly under the king’s orders].” The author of 1 Chronicles seems to have read a Hebrew text that already said “three of the thirty chief men,” so Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text here and recommends that the Masoretic Text be followed here, even though it differs in meaning from the original text of the parallel in 2 Sam 23.13. However, three of the thirty chief men most likely refers to the three mighty men mentioned in verse 12, so Contemporary English Version says “the Three Warriors.”

Instead of to the rock (ʿal ha-tsur in Hebrew), the parallel in 2 Sam 23.13 says “about harvest time” (ʾel qatsir). La Bible Pléiade corrects the Masoretic Text here to agree with the parallel in 2 Samuel. The text would make more sense if it said “about harvest time” rather than to the rock since no rock has been mentioned previously. But translators should follow the Masoretic Text here even though it is different from the parallel in 2 Samuel. Following the Masoretic Text here, apparently David was staying near Adullam Cave at a large rock that provided protection (see 1 Sam 22.1). The cave of Adullam, which was probably a limestone cave, was about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Bethlehem, near David’s birthplace. Adullam was the name of a nearby town and not a person who owned the cave. For this reason some may prefer to say “the cave near Adullam” (New Century Version). Contemporary English Version renders to the rock … at the cave of Adullam as “among the rocks at Adullam Cave,” which is more natural sounding in English, but the Hebrew noun for rock is singular, not plural, so “rocks” is not recommended.

When the army of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim: The valley of Rephaim (mentioned also in 1 Chr 14.9) was a broad valley immediately southwest of Jerusalem on the border between Judah and the northern tribes. Control of this valley would cut off communication between Judah and the northern tribes. Since the word Rephaim means “giants” in some contexts (see, for example, Deut 2.10-11; 2 Sam 21.16), Knox says “the Valley of the Giants.”

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 .