The sons of Cush: Cush is translated “Ethiopia” by Contemporary English Version and Moffatt. This may be justified in other contexts, but it is not recommended here since it is clearly the name of an individual and not of a country (see the comments on the previous verse). Furthermore, the modern state of Ethiopia does not correspond exactly to the territory known as Cush in Hebrew. The biblical term included both Upper Egypt (the southern part of modern Egypt) and part of modern Sudan. In other contexts Traduction œcuménique de la Bible refers to the land known by the name Cush as “Nubia” (see, for example, 2 Kgs 19.9) and the inhabitants as “Nubians” (2 Chr 12.3; 14.8; 16.8). In the present context translators may choose to keep the name “Cush” in the text and state in a footnote that this corresponds to the northeastern corner of Africa. Another possible solution is to say “Cush” in the text and then include “Cush” in a glossary (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).
Seba is mentioned after Egypt and Cush in Isa 43.3 and 45.14 and was probably located in northeastern Africa or in southern Arabia. Since this name and the following ones are almost certainly place names, it will be important to speak of “the people of” (Good News Translation) or “the inhabitants of” these areas. Otherwise readers will take them as names of individuals.
Havilah was located in southwestern Arabia, in the area of modern Yemen.
The exact locations of Sabta and Sabteca are unknown, but they were most likely somewhere in southern Arabia or Ethiopia.
The context in which Raamah is mentioned in Ezek 27.22 suggests that the reference is to a place in southern Arabia. Some scholars identify Raamah with the capital city of an oasis located in the southwestern part of modern-day Saudi Arabia. The spelling difference in Revised Standard Version between Raama and Raamah is difficult to explain since there is no difference in the Hebrew in this verse. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, this name is spelled “Raamah.” This minor inconsistency is carried over into New Revised Standard Version as well. But translators should not attempt to reflect this difference in the receptor language.
Sheba refers to the land and the people in southern Arabia in the area of modern Yemen. Dedan has been identified as a town located at an oasis in northwestern Arabia (compare Gen 10.7). Verse 22 lists Sheba as a descendant of Joktan, one of the descendants of Noah’s son Shem; verse 32 lists Sheba and Dedan as sons of Jokshan, another descendant of Shem. Here in verse 9 Sheba and Dedan are listed as descendants of Noah’s son Ham. It is possible that the three descendants of Ham and Shem who were named Sheba lived in southern Arabia.
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 .