The sons of the singers are the Levites who have a special function as singers and composers. Some Psalms were written by Levites, for example Psa 50. Sons of is a Hebrew expression used here to designate the members of a guild or professional class (see Neh 3.8). This is translated as “companies” in New Revised Standard Version (also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and translators should find a natural expression in their own language.

The Levites did not have any tribal territory so they lived in unwalled towns that they had built on the fringes of settled lands. They gathered together from these towns; that is, they came together to Jerusalem for this occasion from the different places where they lived. The Hebrew connective conjunction comes before each occurrence of from in verses 28 and 29, indicating “both from … and from.” This produces two pairs of this pattern, first in this verse with “both from the region around Jerusalem and from…,” and in the following verse with “both from Bethgilgal and from….” Translators should try to find an equivalent balanced structure in the receptor language.

The circuit round Jerusalem refers to the district around the city (so Osty-Trinquet). This is the area adjacent to and surrounding Jerusalem in the form of a circle (see Neh 3.22). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “the environs of Jerusalem.” “The area around Jerusalem” (so Good News Translation) may be a suitable model.

The villages of the Netophathites refers to the settlements around Netophah, a Judean hill village 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of Jerusalem. Netophathites refers to the dwellers of Netophah. It does not refer to a distinct people.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .