And the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and the Arabs: Stirred up … the anger is literally “stirred up the spirit” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For this expression see the comments on 1 Chr 5.26. In this context it may be rendered “caused … to be angry” (New Century Version) or “caused … to become angry” (Contemporary English Version). For Philistines see the comments on 1 Chr 1.12; for Arabs see 2 Chr 17.11.

Who are near the Ethiopians is literally “who [were] at the hand of the Cushites.” For Ethiopians see the comments on 2 Chr 12.3. As there, it is best to render Ethiopians as “Cushites” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The proximity of the Philistines and the Arabs to the Cushites may be expressed by rendering this clause as “who lived near the Cushites” (New International Version) or “who were neighbors of the Cushites” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Most versions make it sound as if the Philistines and the Arabs came all the way from Ethiopia. The sense is more likely that the Cushites mentioned here had settled along the coast among the Philistines and Arabs, which explains the Good News Translation rendering.

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 .