Still: The Hebrew adverb used to make the transition here is translated “only” in other contexts. Here it has been rendered as “However” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “Nevertheless” (New International Version), “Yet” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Knox), “Even so” (New Century Version, New Living Translation), and “Notwithstanding” (Jewish Publication Version). In each case sharp contrast is correctly indicated.

The LORD did not turn from the fierceness of his great wrath …: It is not essential to retain the negative form here, but many versions do so. New Jerusalem Bible, for example, has “Yahweh did not renounce the heat of his great anger….” The same idea, however, may be stated positively as “the LORD continued to be very angry…” or “the LORD was still furious…” (Contemporary English Version). This expression along with the words by which his anger was kindled against Judah is a very strong statement about the anger of God that was aroused by the sins of Manasseh, a predecessor of Josiah. The LORD’s anger is compared to a fire here as in 2 Kgs 13.3 and 22.13, 17. Moffatt retains this image by saying “the Eternal would not abate the fierce heat of his anger as it blazed against Judah.”

Judah refers to “the people of Judah” (Contemporary English Version) or “the kingdom of Judah” (Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him: Regarding the Hebrew verb translated had provoked, see 1 Kgs 14.9. The reign of Manasseh is described in chapter 21. In verses 11-15 of that chapter, God promised to punish the people of Jerusalem and the rest of Judah because they had allowed themselves to be led astray by Manasseh. A more common language way of talking about this may be “because of all the things Manasseh did to vex Him” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “because of the numerous crimes by which Manasseh had irritated him” (La Bible du Semeur), or simply “because of all Manasseh had done to make him angry” (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 .