Verses 28-31 present still other situations in which the people may turn to God in prayer. These verses refer to natural disasters, diseases and wars, which were understood as God’s punishment for the people’s disobedience (see Lev 26.14-26; Deut 28.15-29).

Verses 24 and 26 begin in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation with the word “When.” The Hebrew construction is different now in verse 28, which Revised Standard Version indicates by the word If. But since verse 28 is presenting another possible situation, Good News Translation maintains consistency of form in English by using “When.”

There is famine in the land: The Hebrew word for famine may be rendered “hunger,” but in this context it is clear that “great hunger” or “widespread hunger” is intended (see the comments on 1 Chr 21.12). In some languages it will be more natural to translate this whole clause as “there is no food in our land.” Contemporary English Version says “the crops may dry up.” As in the previous verse, the land is the land of Israel and not the earth in general.

Pestilence refers to a widespread contagious disease that is deadly and very destructive of human life and animal life (see the comments on 1 Chr 21.12). In some languages this word may be translated “terrible sickness that kills many people.”

Blight or mildew: These two terms occur together five times in the Old Testament. Blight is the effect produced on crops by hot dry winds blowing from the Arabian desert. The plants wilt because of the heat and lack of rain. Mildew is a disease infecting grain as a result of too much moisture. These terms are translated in various ways in English, for example, “black blight or red” (Revised English Bible) and “wind-blast or mildew” (New Jerusalem Bible). Parole de Vie says “The grain crops may dry up or rot in the fields” (similarly Bible en français courant). New Living Translation translates both blight and mildew together as “crop disease.”

Locust or caterpillar: Both Hebrew nouns rendered here refer to jumping or leaping insects, including both locusts and grasshoppers. The first Hebrew noun refers to a fully developed insect; and the second noun refers to an insect that is not yet fully developed, that is, to the larva. For this reason Revised English Bible says “locusts developing or fully grown.” The important point here is that these are insects capable of destroying growing plants. It is implied here there are many of these insects, so Good News Translation says “swarms of locusts,” and Bible en français courant has “the grasshoppers and locusts come in great numbers.” Compare also “There may be clouds of grasshoppers and locusts” (Parole de Vie). For a good discussion on these insects, see ACGS, pages 201-208|fig:ACGS.locusts.201-208.html.

If their enemies besiege them in any of their cities: The Hebrew verb translated besiege refers to a military procedure in which soldiers encircle a city in order to cut off its supplies of food, water, and weapons. The people inside the surrounded city will eventually have no choice but to fight their way out or surrender. In some languages besiege may be rendered “blockade” or “encircle … to defeat.”

Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint with in any of their cities (also Revised English Bible). The Masoretic Text says “in the land of his gates.” This unusual word order in Hebrew may mean “the gates of his land,” referring to the regions along the Israelite border. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates the Masoretic Text as “in any of the settlements of the land” (similarly New Revised Standard Version).

Whatever plague, whatever sickness there is: The Hebrew word translated whatever is literally “all” or “any.” It is used here to indicate that regardless of what kind of difficulty the people of Israel might suffer, they could present their problems to Yahweh in prayer. The Hebrew words for plague and sickness are very general in nature and serve to summarize any possible calamity that might come on the people of Israel. The word for plague refers to any kind of disaster while the word for sickness is limited to illness.

Parole de Vie provides this helpful model for the verse:

• Other misfortunes may occur: For example, there may be famine or disease in the country. The grain crops may dry up or rot in the fields. There may be clouds of grasshoppers and locusts. It may be that the enemies will attack your people even in their well-protected cities. When all kinds of misfortunes and diseases arrive….

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 .