Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel …: In verse 16 “Israel” clearly refers to the people of the northern kingdom and does not include the people of Judah. The words the people of Israel (literally “the sons/children of Israel”; see 1 Kgs 6.1) most logically have the same reference here in verse 17. That is, Rehoboam ruled over the people originally from the northern tribes who now lived in the southern kingdom. In addition, he ruled over all the people of the tribe of Judah, but this is only implied here. See the comments on “the rest of the people” in verse 23.

The translation in Good News Translation appears to refer only to members of the tribe of Judah, but that is probably not the intended meaning of the Hebrew. Translators should make clear the meaning of Israel in this verse (as also in the previous verse). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provides a useful model with “Only the families from the northern tribes, who lived in the cities of Judah, recognized Rehoboam as king.”

De Vries accepts one part of the Septuagint tradition and translates verse 17 as follows: “But the Judahites and the Israelites who were living in the cities of Judah caused Rehoboam to reign over them.” Translators are urged to follow the Masoretic Text, but since it is implicit in the Hebrew that the people of Judah also recognized Rehoboam as king, the translation by De Vries may be recommended as an acceptable model.

The cities of Judah: This phrase is not intended to limit the rule of Rehoboam to the large population centers of Judah. Rather, the countryside, including the smaller towns and villages in the territory, was also included. Revised English Bible translates “the cities and towns of Judah.” But it is probably better to say with Good News Translation and Bible en français courant “the territory of Judah.”

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 .