Revised Standard Version and many other English versions begin this verse with the connector but to render the common Hebrew conjunction. Good News Translation conveys the contrast with the word “however” later in the sentence. The contrast should be marked in one way or another.

The fields of the city and its villages: The distinction between fields in this verse and “pasture lands” in the previous verse is important. The Hebrew word for “pasture lands” refers to open land where livestock could graze. The word translated fields is a more general term, used of cultivated land or potential agricultural land belonging to or attached to a particular town. In many languages it may difficult to find two separate terms, but it is important to do so since the text will sound contradictory otherwise (see Euan Fry’s article on this topic in The Bible Translator).

Larger walled towns often were surrounded by small villages that were not protected by walls. The people who lived in these villages often provided military support to the walled towns and went there for protection when they were attacked. Archaeological evidence indicates that the villages were often no more than one or two acres in size.

They gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Good News Translation uses a passive verb here (“were assigned”), and this certainly conveys the idea of the text. However, in those languages where the passive form is not an option, it will be necessary to follow the form of the Hebrew with an impersonal third person plural or to turn the sentence around by saying “Caleb … received the fields and villages….” For Caleb the son of Jephunneh, see 1 Chr 4.15.

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 .