Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah: While the Hebrew text has only the common conjunction at the beginning of this verse, the context requires some kind of contrast marker since readers will logically expect the LORD to destroy Judah in view of Jehoram’s sinful actions. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh begins this verse with “However” and New American Bible says “Even so.”

The element of the will is important in the verbal expression would not destroy. Some other renderings are “refrained from destroying” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “was unwilling to destroy” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). In other languages translators may wish to say “refused to destroy” or “rejected the idea of eliminating.”

In some languages it will be wise to render Judah more specifically as “the kingdom of Judah,” as in Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente.

For the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons for ever; that is, because he had promised David that his descendants would always rule over the kingdom whose capital was in Jerusalem (2 Sam 7.16, 29; 1 Kgs 11.36).

For the image of the lamp, see the comments on 1 Kgs 11.36. For the last half of the verse, New Century Version drops the figurative language in favor of a more meaningful translation of the sense, saying “The LORD had promised that one of David’s descendants would always rule” (similarly Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur).

To his sons for ever; that is, “for his descendants for all time” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This indicates a permanent arrangement between Yahweh and the family of David. On the basis of 1 Kgs 11.36, some interpreters and translations (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) correct the Masoretic Text to read “in his [the LORD’s] presence” instead of to his sons. New American Bible, for example, reads “in the LORD’s presence for all time.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which translators should follow here.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .