King Ahaz cut off the frames of the stands is literally “King Ahaz cut off the frames, the stands.” The construction of this first part of the verse is difficult to understand, and for that reason most interpreters make a couple of minor corrections of the Hebrew in order to read … the frames of the stands. The Hebrew word translated frames here is the same one that is translated “panels” in 1 Kgs 7.28; and it should be translated “panels” here also (so Gray). The description of these stands together with their panels is found in 1 Kgs 7.27-29. The panels are said to have been cut off, which is the literal meaning of the Hebrew verb. But in this context the verb may be better translated with a more general verb, such as “detached” (New American Bible) or “took off” (New Century Version). Note that Good News Translation does not attempt to be as precise as the Hebrew, but says simply “King Ahaz took apart the bronze carts.” Regarding the rendering “carts” instead of stands, see the comments on 1 Kgs 7.27.
The laver is literally “and the laver,” but the Hebrew conjunction “and” seems to be a scribal error. Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version have the singular laver as in Hebrew. But the plural form is found in New International Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, probably because of the fact that 1 Kgs 7.38 describes ten lavers or wash basins to be used by the priests. Each stand held one laver only, so whether translators use the singular or the plural will depend in part on receptor language usage. In English the best translation is probably “the basins” (Good News Translation, New International Version) or “the washing bowls” (New Century Version). See the comments at 1 Kgs 7.30 for further help on how to translate this term.
The sea: For this special use of the word for sea, refer to the remarks on 1 Kgs 7.23. Some possible translations are “the tank” (Moffatt) or, perhaps better, “the large bowl, which was called the Sea” (New Century Version). New Jerusalem Bible and La Bible Pléiade read “the bronze Sea,” claiming that the word “bronze” was misplaced in the Hebrew text. Similarly, Good News Translation says “the bronze tank,” but it is not clear whether this translation reflects a correction of the Hebrew text or simply makes explicit what is implicit here.
The bronze oxen: Good News Translation adds information that would have been quite familiar to the original readers, namely, that there were twelve of these bronze oxen. Although the passages that tell about these oxen (1 Kgs 7.25, 44; 2 Chr 4.4, 15) do not explicitly say that the oxen were made of bronze, surely that is implied in those passages.
A pediment of stone: The Hebrew word translated pediment is not found anywhere else in the Old Testament. But it is closely related to the word translated “pavement” in Ezek 40.17. In fact, the English word “pavement” is used here in New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New Living Translation. Other versions speak of a “base” (Revised English Bible) or “foundation” (Good News Translation). The tank had been previously supported on the backs of the twelve bronze bulls. It would now be supported by a base made of stone.
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 .