Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim, to go home again: The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse may be rendered Then or “So” (Good News Translation). Either interpretation is possible. Revised Standard Version focuses on the time relationship, that is, the events of verse 10 follow those of verse 9. However, Good News Translation focuses on the result that is stated in verse 10. Discharged is literally “divided” or “separated” (An American Translation). For Ephraim see the comments on 2Chr 25.7. Bible en français courant says “the kingdom of the North.” A possible rendering for this whole sentence is “Then Amaziah told the troops from the northern kingdom to return to their homes” or “So Amaziah sent the Israelite troops back to their homes.”

And they became very angry with Judah, and returned home in fierce anger: The expressions they became very angry and in fierce anger refer to the same emotion of anger, but the first one has to do with its beginning while the second one underlines its continuation. They became very angry is literally “their nose/anger burned greatly” (see the comments on 1 Chr 13.10 for this idiomatic expression), and in fierce anger is literally “in the burning of anger.” Bible en français courant translates Judah as “the kingdom of Judah.” Home is literally “to their own place.” A possible model for this whole sentence is “So they started being angry with the people of Judah, and they continued to be very angry when they returned home.”

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 .