The term servants in this context does not refer to household or domestic servants, but rather to court officials of rather high rank. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Revised English Bible speak of Amon’s “courtiers” while others use the term “officials” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

It may be confusing in some languages to refer to the same person by his name (Amon) in the first part of the verse and by his title (the king) in the second part. The problem may be easily resolved by speaking of “King Amon” at the beginning of the verse and using third person singular pronouns for him in the rest of the verse.

For conspired against him, see the comments at 1 Kgs 15.27.

The assassination of Amon may have had something to do with the fact that he was one of the youngest sons of Manasseh. According to the information given in verse 19, Amon must have been born when Manasseh was forty-five years old. If any of his older brothers were alive when he took power, they could have been behind the attempted coup.

The location of the assassination is said to have been in his house, that is, in the royal palace of Amon in the city of Jerusalem.

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 .