Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: In this context the verb gathered together does not refer to the assembling of these forces at a specific time. Rather, it was over a period of time that he “amassed” (Revised English Bible) or “collected” (New American Bible) this impressive military might. Like Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible has “built up a force of.”

For the great number of chariots and horses that Solomon had, see 1 Kgs 4.26. Regarding the various possible meanings of the Hebrew noun rendered horsemen here, see the comments on 1 Kgs 4.26.

Whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem: This clause is awkward in English since the pronoun he refers to Solomon, who was the king in Jerusalem. International Children’s Bible has two separate sentences here, saying “He kept some in special cities for the chariots. And he kept some with him in Jerusalem.” In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of the chariot cities and Jerusalem, as Good News Translation has done.

Instead of stationed, the Masoretic Text reads “led” (so Nouvelle Bible Segond), but the two Hebrew verbs that mean “stationed” and “led” are similar in spelling. Both the Septuagint reading here in 1 Kings and the Masoretic Text in 2 Chr 1.14 and 9.25 read “stationed.” Most translations also read “stationed” here in 1 Kings (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New International Version [“kept”], even though they usually follow the Masoretic Text). Even if the Masoretic Text is followed here, the sense is surely that Solomon placed the chariots and horsemen in these cities.

Regarding the chariot cities, see 1 Kgs 9.19.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .