Prepare yourselves according to your fathers’ houses by your divisions: The imperative verb here in the Hebrew text is a passive form, which may be translated “Be ready” (La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet). Revised Standard Version and nearly all other versions follow the corrected reading in the margin of the Hebrew text, which reads “Prepare yourselves.” The Levites are instructed to get ready for the work that they had been assigned. According to the context, this required a certain amount of organization. Parole de Vie and La Bible du Semeur translate Prepare yourselves as “Organize yourselves,” and Bible en français courant has “Divide yourselves up.” The expressions according to your fathers’ houses (see the comments on 1 Chr 5.24) and by your divisions (see the comments on 1 Chr 24.1) indicate the basis of the organization. New Century Version renders these two phrases as “by your family groups for service.”

Following the directions of David … and the directions of Solomon …: The Levites were to organize themselves according to the directions of David and Solomon. New International Version makes it explicit that organization was to be done “according to the directions written by David….” The two related Hebrew words rendered directions come from a root that has the meaning of something written down. New Revised Standard Version says “written directions,” and Revised English Bible has “written instructions.” The idea of “written directions” is not made explicit in Good News Translation, but there is no reason to omit it in the receptor language. For further discussion on these directions, see 1 Chr 23–26 and 2 Chr 8.14. If necessary, the order of the information in this last half of the verse may be changed to make it more natural in the receptor language. The essential information is that both David and Solomon were kings of Israel and that Solomon was one of David’s sons. They both had given instructions to the Levites regarding their work.

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 .