And there were also …: This verse begins with the common Hebrew conjunction, which is linked with another conjunction that usually means “also” or “even.” This combination is rendered “Worst of all” in Good News Translation. While this may not be a good model for every language, the translation should show that what follows is seen as a supreme evil.

Male cult prostitutes renders the Hebrew noun that is literally “holy man” (also in 1 Kgs 15.12; 22.46; 2 Kgs 23.7). It is impossible to determine exactly what this refers to. It is possible to understand the Hebrew noun collectively (that is, plural in meaning) and also as including both men and women (so Good News Translation). Other translations include “sodomites” (King James Version), “male temple prostitutes” (New Revised Standard Version), “male prostitutes attached to the shrines” (Revised English Bible), “cult prostitutes” (New American Bible), “shrine prostitutes” (New Living Translation), and “male sacred prostitutes” (New Jerusalem Bible). Deut 23.17 (23.18 in Hebrew) has often been understood as prohibiting Israelites from serving as temple prostitutes. An increasing number of scholars, however, question whether the Hebrew here and in Deut 23.17 refers to cultic prostitution. There is little, if any, evidence to show that people practiced prostitution at the sacred places of worship (see van der Toorn). Anchor Bible, therefore, translates here “male prostitutes” (also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

All the abominations of the nations refers to the worst evils practiced by the pagan peoples whom the Israelites had replaced in the Promised Land.

Which the LORD drove out before the people of Israel: It may be helpful to make explicit some of the information that remains implicit in these words. For example, Good News Translation adds that the people had been driven out at the time that the people of Israel had “advanced into the country.” It may also be wise to add an indication of time by saying “whom the LORD drove out long ago….”

A possible model for languages that require shorter sentences may be found in International Children’s Bible, which translates the last part of this verse as follows:

• The people who had lived in the land before the Israelites had done many evil things. And God had taken the land away from them. Now the people of Judah were doing the same evil things.

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 .