Then King Asa took all Judah: The verb took is better expressed as “took with him” (Revised English Bible), “assembled” (La Bible du Semeur), or “gathered” (Good News Translation). For all Judah, Revised English Bible has “all the men of Judah.” Since it does not seem likely that Asa took with him every male in Judah, this phrase is better rendered “men from throughout Judah” (Good News Translation).

And they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building: Asa’s workers carried away the stones and wood that had been used by Baasha’s workers for fortifying the city of Ramah. The pronoun its refers to Ramah. The timber was large beams hewn from trees for the construction.

And with them he built Geba and Mizpah: Asa’s workers used the stones and timber to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah. Since these two towns already existed, the Hebrew verb for built is better translated “fortified” (Contemporary English Version, New American Bible). Geba was about 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) north of Jerusalem, and Mizpah was just northwest of Geba. Archaeological excavations at Mizpah (modern Tell en-Nasbeh) have revealed a wall fifteen feet high with numerous towers, which date to the time of King Asa. Both these towns were on the northern border of Judah. These two towns were strategically located. Mizpah was on the main north-south road between Judah and Israel. Geba was located on a secondary road running north-south. These two roads were the most likely routes that enemy troops from the north would use when invading Judah.

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 .