The sons of Tola …: The single sentence of Revised Standard Version for this verse, which has no main verb, is divided into three separate sentences in Good News Translation. This may be a helpful model for many other languages. New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible provide other possible models with only two sentences in each case.

The Hebrew name transliterated Shemuel is the same one for “Samuel.” Most translations say Shemuel here, perhaps to avoid confusion with the name of the prophet Samuel, but some do have “Samuel” (New International Version, New Century Version, An American Translation, American Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Braun).

Heads of their father’s houses, namely of Tola: Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “the leaders of the families of Tola.” Other translations include “chiefs of their families” (Moffatt) and “they were leaders of their families” (New Century Version). But the sense is not that Tola’s sons were heads of their immediate families but rather “Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan” (New Living Translation). For heads of their father’s houses, see the comments on 1 Chr 5.24.

Mighty warriors of their generations: For mighty warriors, see the comments on 1 Chr 5.24. An American Translation has “distinguished warriors,” while New Century Version speaks of “fighting men.” The Hebrew expression translated of their generations is attached to the preceding words in the Masoretic Text, which is followed by Revised Standard Version. Compare also “mighty warriors in their generation” (Moffatt). It is possible, however, to attach this expression to what follows, as in La Bible Pléiade, which says “whose numbers according to their genealogies were, at the time of David, twenty-two thousand six hundred” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Their number in the days of David being twenty-two thousand six hundred: 1 Chr 21 tells of a census of Israel taken while David was king. Since this census seems to be behind the phrase in the days of David, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “In the census taken at the time of David, their descendants were twenty-two thousand six hundred.” The number twenty-two thousand six hundred refers to the descendants of Tola, and not to all of Issachar’s descendants. Although the Hebrew does not state in this verse that the 22,600 were available for military service, the numbers in verses 2-5 appear to come from a military census (see verses 7, 9, 11). New Living Translation is probably correct in rendering the last half of this verse as “At the time of King David, the total number of men available for military service from these families was 22,600.” Compare also “In the family history of Tola’s descendants, twenty-two thousand six hundred men were listed as fighting men during the time David was king” (New Century Version) and “During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered 22,600” (New International Version).

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 .