And he seized all the gold and silver is literally “and all the gold and silver.” Revised Standard Version has supplied the words he seized as the context requires. Revised English Bible similarly adds “He took,” in agreement with the parallel text of 2 Kgs 14.14.

And all the vessels that were found in the house of God: The Hebrew word for vessels is a general term that may be translated “equipment” (Good News Translation), “utensils” (New Century Version), or “articles” (New International Version) in this context. Here it refers to items or objects for use in the Temple (see the comments on 1 Chr 28.13). The passive expression that were found may be translated actively by saying “that he found” or “that his soldiers found.”

And Obed-edom with them: Regarding Obed-edom, see 1 Chr 13.13-14. According to the rendering in Revised Standard Version (also New Revised Standard Version), which follows the interpretation of the Septuagint, Jehoash captured Obed-edom as well as the valuable items in the Temple. But this gives the impression that Obed-edom was an individual, which is probably not the case if this interpretation is followed. Rather, the meaning is “the descendants of Obed Edom,” so Moffatt renders this whole phrase as “carried off the household of Obed-edom.” The Hebrew may also be translated “that had been in the care of Obed Edom” (New International Version; similarly Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant). Since Obed Edom lived in the time of King David some two hundred years earlier, the Good News Translation rendering assumes that the reference must be to the descendants of Obed Edom. However, it is also possible that this verse refers to a descendant of Obed Edom who had the same name as his ancestor.

He seized also the treasuries of the king’s house, and hostages …: Plundering the wealth of an enemy’s temple and palace was quite common in warfare at that time. But taking hostages was less common. Hostages is literally “sons of the guarantees,” which is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament except in the parallel account of 2 Kgs 14.14. The Hebrew noun for “guarantees” comes from a root verb that means “to take as a pledge” or “to give in exchange.” In some languages the idea of hostages may be very difficult to express. Some may have to say “persons kept while waiting for an agreement to be fulfilled” or simply “people that he had captured.” The latter rendering would not be very different from “prisoners,” but if the hostage concept is to be retained, the idea is probably that these were children of noble families who would be held as a guarantee of commitment and obedience on the part of the conquered masses and their local rulers. One African language uses a circumlocution stating that “they captured important people and made them live in Samaria so that the king of Judah would not try to go to war again.”

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 .