These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem …: The names of David’s children who were born in Jerusalem are also given in 1 Chr 3.5-8. Though verse 3 states that both sons and daughters were born to David in Jerusalem, the thirteen children listed in verses 4-7 are all sons. In order to clarify this detail, some translators may prefer to begin verse 4 with “The following sons were born to him in Jerusalem….” New Living Translation has “These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem….”

Shammua is a variant name for “Shimea” (1 Chr 3.5). The first edition of New Living Translation harmonizes the names by reading “Shimea” here also (see the comments on 1 Chr 14.7), but the second edition of New Living Translation has “priestly tunic.” But perhaps a better solution is that of Contemporary English Version, which translates simply “linen cloth,” but adds a footnote stating that the Hebrew word is literally “ephod,” which may refer either to a piece of clothing like a skirt that went from the waist to the knee or to a garment like a vest or a jacket that was normally worn only by priests.

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 .