And Ephraim their father mourned many days: The Hebrew says only that Ephraim mourned, but Good News Translation, New International Version, and Peregrino make it explicit that he “mourned for them,” that is, for Ezer and Elead. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “mourned their death” (similarly La Bible du Semeur). Many days may be translated “a long while” (Revised English Bible) or “for a long time” (American Bible; similarly Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New American Bible).

And his brothers came: Since Ephraim’s only brother was Manasseh, his brothers should be not understood as the sons of his father, but more generally, as “his relatives” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, alternative translation in Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “his kinsmen” (Revised English Bible).

To comfort him: There are a number of very different expressions in various languages to describe the actions of people who attempt to encourage a person who has lost one or more loved ones. Some say “strengthen the heart” of the person in mourning, while others speak of “removing the sorrow” or “making strong the insides.” Compare Job 2.11.

Verses 21-22 clearly indicate that Ephraim and his family lived in Canaan, but according to Gen 41–50, Ephraim and Manasseh both were born in Egypt and died in Egypt. Ancient Jewish traditions provide several ways of trying to make sense of these facts, some of which affect the translation. For example, some medieval Jewish scholars argued that the words “who were born in the land” in verse 21 refer to the people of Ephraim and that “the land” refers to a place in Transjordan.

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 .