Jeroboam did not recover his power: Jeroboam never regained his political power after he was defeated by Abijah. Did not recover his power is literally “did not keep power again.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “could not muster strength again,” and New Century Version has “never became strong again.” Bible de Jérusalem eliminates the negative by saying “lost his power.”

In the days of Abijah may be rendered “during the reign of Abijah” (Moffatt; similarly Good News Translation). Bible en français courant places this phrase at the beginning of the verse, which other languages may find helpful. The Masoretic Text has the name “Abiyahu” (La Bible Pléiade) here and in the next verse, which is a variant of the name Abijah.

And the LORD smote him, and he died: And at the beginning of this sentence renders the common Hebrew conjunction. Several modern versions translate it “Finally” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) in order to avoid giving the impression that Jeroboam was killed immediately. The Hebrew verb translated smote may refer to a military defeat, a plague, an illness, or a curse (see the comments on verse 15, where it is rendered “defeated”). The context does not provide enough information to know which is intended here. God’s Word says “caused … to become sick,” which is probably more specific than the context allows.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .