A contrasting conjunction like But may be required at the beginning of this verse since the previous verse gives the impression that absolutely all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were deported by Nebuzaradan. The conjunction introduces an exception that is contrary to the expectation of the reader.

The captain of the guard left …: Good News Translation (also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje) makes it clear where this remnant was left (“in Judah”). The inclusion of this information may also be helpful in other languages.

The poorest of the land: See 2 Kgs 24.14, where the expression is slightly different (“the poorest people of the land”), but the meaning is apparently the same.

Vinedressers are people who take care of the vines that produce grapes. Their work involves pruning the vines as well as harvesting the grapes. See the comments on “vineyard” at 1 Kgs 21.1.

The Hebrew word translated plowmen occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament except in the parallel passage in Jer 52.16, and its meaning is uncertain. Some have understood it to mean “ditch diggers.” But probably it has a more general meaning, such as “tillers of the soil” (New Revised Standard Version, Osty-Trinquet), “labourers” (Revised English Bible), “farmers” (New American Bible), or “field workers” (American Bible).

The last two nouns have been rendered in several modern English versions as “people … to work the vineyards and fields” (New International Version) and “people … to take care of the vineyards and fields” (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 .