He took … and they brought the king down …: The subject of the verb took and the main character of the story is still Jehoiada the priest. However, Good News Translation combines the verbs took and brought and translates them as “escorted” since Jehoiada here acts in conjunction with the groups listed. Others may prefer to translate brought the king down as “led the king” or “accompanied the king as he went.” Since the Temple was located higher on the hill than the king’s palace, the writer says that they brought the king down. This downward direction is not essential to the meaning here. In fact, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders they brought the king down simply as “they escorted the king.”

Regarding the Carites and the guards, see verse 4.

The Hebrew verb translated marching in Revised Standard Version is the common verb often meaning “to go.” The Hebrew does not mean that the people were marching in military formation as soldiers do, but rather escorting an important person. New Jerusalem Bible says simply “entering.”

The gate of the guards: See verse 6.

He took his seat on the throne of the kings: This was the final act in the coronation process. The first part of this process, which included the placing of the crown on the head of Joash, is described in verse 12. Other translations include “he sat upon the royal throne” (American Bible) and “the king sat on the royal throne” (New Century Version).

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 .