And the Philistines had made raids on the cities … and had taken …: Revised Standard Version uses the past perfect tense here to describe events that had taken place previously, but Good News Translation interprets the text to mean that these events were taking place at the same time as the events just reported. Probably the Hebrew verb form here should be understood as indicating a pause in the description of events about sending for help from Assyria in order to supply background information about what the Philistines had done. The past perfect tense in Revised Standard Version (had made raids and had taken) seems preferable to the past tense in Good News Translation. For the Hebrew verb rendered had made raids, see the comments on 1 Chr 14.9.

The Shephelah refers to the western foothills of Judah (see the comments on 1 Chr 27.28 and 2 Chr 1.15).

The Negeb of Judah refers to the southern, dry region of the kingdom of Judah (compare Jdg 1.9; 1 Sam 27.10). Instead of transliterating the term Negeb, it may be better to translate the meaning by rendering the Negeb of Judah as “southern Judah” (Good News Translation, New Century Version) or “the southern region of Judah” (Bible en français courant).

For the city of Beth-shemesh, see the comments on 2 Chr 25.21; for the city of Aijalon, see 2 Chr 11.10.

Gederoth was a city located in the Shephelah (see Josh 15.41). This city is not to be confused with Gederah, another city in the Shephelah (see 1 Chr 4.23).

Soco is the name of three different cities in the Old Testament. The reference here is most likely to the city located in the Shephelah, mentioned in Josh 15.35 and 1 Sam 17.1 (see the comments on 2 Chr 11.7). Another Soco was located in the hill country of Judah (see Josh 15.48).

The city of Timnah, which was located on the northern border of Judah, passed back and forth between Philistine and Israelite control. At the time of Samson the city was occupied by the Philistines (Jdg 14–15). At the time of King Ahaz Timnah was under Judean control. This city was about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) north of Beth-shemesh. Timnah has been identified as modern-day Tell el-Batashi.

Gimzo was a city located in the lowland region near the Philistine plain. It has been identified with modern Jimzu, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) southeast of Lod (referred to in the Maccabean period and in the New Testament as Lydda) off the Jerusalem road in the Aijalon Valley.

For the Hebrew word rendered villages (literally “daughters”), see the comments on 1 Chr 2.23. Instead of repeating with its villages three times in this verse, many languages will find it more natural to follow the model of Good News Translation which gives the names of the three cities and then mentions their surrounding villages all together.

And they settled there: The Hebrew verb rendered settled means “to sit down” or “to dwell.” The sense here is that the Philistines did more than occupy the towns and villages for a short time. They came and stayed. Good News Translation expresses the meaning well by adding the word “permanently.”

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 .