After this: New International Version says “Later,” which indicates the passage of a certain amount of time between the speech of Hezekiah and the arrival of Sennacherib’s messengers in Jerusalem.

Sennacherib king of Assyria: It may be considered unnecessary in some languages to repeat the words king of Assyria here since this information is given earlier in the chapter.

Who was besieging Lachish with all his forces is literally “and he against Lachish….” However, it is apparent that a verb such as besieging is to be understood. In an effort to translate as literally as possible, Jewish Publication Version says “now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “he and all his staff being at Lachish.” Regarding the city of Lachish, see the comments on 2 Chr 11.9. Archaeological excavations have found walls at Lachish that are 6 meters (20 feet) thick.

Sent his servants to Jerusalem …: The servants mentioned here were not menial domestic servants, but rather trusted messengers or officials (see 2 Kgs 18.17). For this reason it may be better to translate “messengers” ( NET Bible), “representatives” (New Jerusalem Bible), “officials” (New Living Translation), or “officers” (New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

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 .