This chapter contains a listing of leaders in verses 2-15, 16-22, and 25-31. Translators should consider how this information should be presented in their language. Traditional translations present the information in these verses in paragraph form. Most common language translations present these verses in some form of list, whether in one or two columns, since this form makes the structure and content easier to see. Another way of presenting verses 2-15 in a clear form is to begin a new paragraph for each of the twelve divisions (so New Jerusalem Bible).

According to Revised Standard Version, Jashobeam (verse 2) was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month (verse 3). The Hebrew may also be translated “chief of all the commanders, [he served] for the first month” (Japhet). According to this second interpretation, Jashobeam was the leader of all of the other commanders and he served during the first month. This interpretation is possible but not likely the intended sense. A few translations follow the Septuagint here in reading “Ishbaal” rather than Jashobeam (so Klein).

In certain languages where months are counted rather than named, readers may think of the first month (verse 2) as January. Translators will need to do something to inform the reader that this is not the meaning of the text. Perhaps the best way to do this is to provide a footnote explaining that the first month refers to the month sometimes called “Abib” or “Nissan,” which is equivalent to mid-March to mid-April in modern reckoning. This will enable the reader to understand the remaining references to months throughout this chapter. A reference to a glossary explanation of the calendar systems of the Old Testament might also serve the same purpose.

The clause in his division were twenty-four thousand is repeated twelve times in verses 2-15, once for each of the months, and this form is reflected in Revised Standard Version and even in more modern versions such as New International Version, New Living Translation, and New Century Version. In languages where such repetition is considered unnatural and heavy stylistically, it is advisable to make a summary statement as several modern translations do. This summary may be placed either at the beginning of the list (as in Good News Translation) or at the end of the list if this is more in keeping with what would be done more naturally in the receptor language. The Hebrew preposition translated in may also be rendered “over.” It is possible, though not likely, that the sense is that twenty-four thousand supervisors were “over” each division.

Perez (verse 3) was a member of the tribe of Judah (1 Chr 2.4; 4.1), as some versions make explicit here (so Good News Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).

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 .