He remained with her six years: The pronouns in this clause may be especially troublesome in languages where masculine and feminine pronouns are not distinguished. Even in English, Good News Translation finds it useful to specify that he refers to “the boy” and her to “Jehosheba.” It is possible, but less likely, that the pronoun her refers to the nurse mentioned in verse 2. Good News Translation also rewords the clause so that Jehosheba becomes the subject of the verb “took care of,” which sounds more compassionate than remained with.

Hid in the house of the LORD: The use of the Temple as a hiding place for the young prince was possible because his aunt Jehosheba was married to Jehoiada the priest. The verb hid renders a different Hebrew verb than the one translated “hid” in verse 2, but the two verbs are synonyms and may be translated with the same word in the receptor language.

Reigned over the land: In almost every other case of the rulers of Israel and Judah, the writer specifies the name of the kingdom they ruled (for example, “Asa began to reign over Judah” in 1 Kgs 15.9 and “he [Nadab] reigned over Israel” in 1 Kgs 16.25). But in this case the writer has only over the land. This may be yet another way to distinguish the abnormal rule of Athaliah from the reigns of the other rulers in Israel and Judah. Possibly, the land is used in the specialized sense here, as in 1 Kgs 4.19, to refer to the “the territory of Judah” (so Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). In 1 Kgs 4.19 Revised Standard Version appropriately translates “the land” as “the land of Judah.” But perhaps the broad expression the land more accurately suggests the sense of the queen’s complete control and threat to Joash.

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 .