And some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites … is literally “And from the sons of the Kohathites, from their brothers….” As in verse 30, if “sons of” is translated literally, this may suggest incorrectly that the text refers to children of the Kohathite clan and not to the Kohathite clan members themselves. The pronoun their refers to the Levites of other clans.

Had charge of is literally “over” (see verse 28).

Showbread is literally “bread of the row” or “bread of arrangement.” This particular expression is used only in 1–2 Chronicles and in Neh 10.33. Elsewhere in the Bible, this bread is usually called “bread of the Presence” (literally “bread of the face” in Exodus). In each case the reference is to the twelve loaves of bread consecrated to God and set before him in two rows on the golden table in the Holy Place every Sabbath. The English term showbread comes from Tyndale’s translation, which was based on that of Martin Luther in German. New Revised Standard Version revises to say “rows of bread,” which is much more in keeping with the literal Hebrew. Others say “sacred loaves of bread” (Contemporary English Version) or “Bread of the Presence” (Revised English Bible). Some translations give the impression that the responsibility of these members of the clan of Kohath was to set the bread out in proper arrangement, but others indicate that they were the ones to make the bread. Perhaps both elements were involved.

The Hebrew term for sabbath comes from a verb meaning “to rest” or “to abandon work.” It is similar to the word for “seven,” and it was on the seventh day that Yahweh rested, following the work of creation (Gen 2.2-3). In many languages it is best translated “day of rest” in this context.

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 .