They set to work and removed … is literally “And they arose and they removed…” (NASB). The subject of these verbs is the many people mentioned in the previous verse. The verb “arose,” when used with another verb, often signifies undertaking a significant task. Revised English Bible expresses its sense well by beginning this verse with “They began by removing….”

The altars that were in Jerusalem were the altars that had been built for worship of foreign gods (see 2 Chr 28.24). These altars were not the same as all the altars for burning incense. The first Hebrew noun translated altars comes from a root meaning “to sacrifice” and refers to altars that were used for offering sacrifices. The Hebrew word rendered altars for burning incense comes from the same root as the word for “incense.” These other altars were used for burning incense. Good News Translation keeps the distinction between the two types of altar by saying “the altars that had been used in Jerusalem for offering sacrifices and burning incense.”

For Kidron valley, see the comments on 2 Chr 15.16.

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 .