Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 13:1:
Kupsabiny: “David consulted with the army commanders who were in charge of a thousand soldiers and those in charge of a hundred soldiers.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “King David consulted with all the leaders, his generals, and with his captains.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “David talked to his officers, who were commanders of thousands and hundreds of soldiers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “One day David talked with all his army officers. Some of them were commanders of 100 soldiers and some were commanders of 1,000 soldiers.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”
This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.
This verse begins with the common Hebrew conjunction, which Contemporary English Version helpfully renders “Some time later.” Like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, most versions omit it here.
David consulted with commanders of thousands and of hundreds: Since this is the beginning of a new section, Good News Translation identifies David more fully as “King David” (also Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). The commanders of thousands and of hundreds refers to officers of military units (compare 2 Sam 18.1; 1 Chr 12.14). Moffatt reads “the commanders and generals.”
With every leader: The Hebrew term for leader is often translated “prince” (see the comments on 1 Chr 5.2). In this context it may refer to officers of the military, as in 2 Chr 32.21, where it is rendered “commanders.” The Hebrew preposition translated with sometimes has a generalizing force in 1–2 Chronicles at the end of a description or enumeration and may be translated “namely.” If this interpretation is followed, then the words every leader are in apposition to commanders (so Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje); for example, New American Bible renders the last half of this verse as “with his commanders of thousands and of hundreds, that is to say, with every one of his leaders.” But the reference to every leader may be to a separate group of leaders from the military leaders; for example, the last phrase of this verse in Bible en français courant is “as well as with all the notables,” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “and with all the notables.” For the whole verse compare also “David conferred with the leaders of the military units and the leaders of the people.” The text seems to be emphatic at the end of the verse and this emphasis should be retained in translation if possible. New Jerusalem Bible does so by rendering the last phrase as “in fact with all the leaders.” The translation of New American Bible cited above is recommended.
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 .
David spoke with the officers of his army. (EEB) -or-
⌊Soon after this⌋ king David talked with all his officers.
13:1b the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
Some officers were the leaders of 1,000 men. Other officers were the leaders of 100 men. (Easy English Bible) -or-
Some commanded large military units and some commanded smaller ones.
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