He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal: The pronoun He refers to Shaharaim (verse 8). In some languages it may be wise to use the proper name again at this point, as in New Living Translation. For Hushim see 1 Chr 8.8. Shaharaim had already divorced Hushim before he had seven children by Hodesh. For this reason some versions correctly use the past perfect tense. New Living Translation, for example, has “Shaharaim’s wife Hushim had already given birth to Abitub and Elpaal” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, El libro del Pueblo de Dios). Compare also “Earlier Shaharaim had had two sons by his wife Hushim, Abitub and Elpaal” (Bible en français courant).

Translators should be aware of how someone only hearing the text read may understand it since translations are not intended for readers only. When a literal translation of this verse such as Revised Standard Version is heard in public reading, it may sound as if Shaharaim had sons by three women: Hushim, Abitub, and Elpaal. Good News Translation, which adds the word “two,” will be understood more easily (so also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Another possible model that does this is “Shaharaim also had two sons named Abitub and Elpaal by Hushim.” The sons of Elpaal are listed in the following verse, but nothing is said regarding the descendants of Abitub.

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 .