And the people of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered And may be omitted here (so Good News Translation). The people of Israel that were present at Jerusalem refers to all those who had come together to the Temple in the city of Jerusalem. Good News Translation leaves Israel implied perhaps because of the possible confusion between the people of the northern and southern kingdoms. Contemporary English Version says simply “The worshipers in Jerusalem.”

With great gladness: In some languages this expression will be more naturally translated by an adverb, such as “very joyously” (Parole de Vie) or “happily.”

And the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day: Day by day refers to the period of seven days for celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Singing with all their might to the LORD: As the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation indicate, the original text is uncertain here. Instead of singing with all their might, the Masoretic Text says “with instruments of might” (bikeley ʿoz in Hebrew) or “with powerful instruments.” New Revised Standard Version, which follows the Masoretic Text, says “accompanied by loud instruments.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a rating of {B} to the Masoretic Text. Other versions following the Masoretic Text include New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Nouvelle Bible Segond, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. However, some scholars suggest that the text originally read “with all their strength” (bekal ʿoz in Hebrew; so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible).

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 .