He restored the border of Israel: This expression shows that Jeroboam II won back for Israel all the land that had belonged to it previously. New Jerusalem Bible rightly translates “It was he who recovered the territory of Israel.” The text then goes on to spell out the precise area that was included within the boundaries of Israel under the leadership of Jeroboam II. The boundary markers are incomplete and even the two that are given are not free of controversy.
The entrance of Hamath: See the discussion on this place name at 1 Kgs 8.65. It could refer to a mountain pass south of the city of Hamath (so Good News Translation) or to a city named Lebo-hamath (so New Revised Standard Version). The second understanding is more likely.
The Sea of the Arabah is another way of referring to “the Dead Sea” (so Good News Translation, New Century Version, La Bible du Semeur). The Dead Sea is the only other boundary marker given in this verse, but there are other passages dealing in greater detail with the southern border of Israel. These are found in Num 34.3-5; Josh 15.1-4; Ezek 47.19 and 48.28. The western boundary is assumed to be the Mediterranean Sea. The Arabah refers here to the entire Jordan Valley from the Lake of Galilee in the north to, and including, the Dead Sea in the south. In some passages the Arabah refers more specifically to the land east of the Jordan River, and in other passages it refers to the land west of Jordan River (for example, 2 Kgs 25.4-5).
According to the word of the LORD … which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai: Readers will search in vain for any trace of this prophetic utterance in the book of the prophet Jonah. But the words are nevertheless credited to Jonah and should be so attributed in the translation of this passage. Apart from the book of Jonah, this is the only mention of Jonah the son of Amittai in the Old Testament (see Jonah 1.1).
Who was from Gath-hepher: According to Josh 19.13, this town was a part of the land given to the tribe of Zebulun. The book of Jonah, however, makes no mention of the prophet’s hometown. Gath-hepher has been identified with the modern town of El-Meshed, which is located about five kilometers (three miles) northeast of Nazareth. Translators are advised to include the classifier term “town” when translating this name.
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 .