Since the actions described in this verse most likely did not take place immediately, some languages may require a transition word at the beginning of the verse like “Later on” or “Afterward” (New Living Translation).

Bronze: See the comments on 1 Kgs 4.13.

The guard renders a Hebrew participle that is literally “the runners” (so Osty-Trinquet, La Bible Pléiade). The same participle is translated “to run” in 1 Kgs 1.5, where there is a discussion of what these men did. The Hebrew participle is plural, which is also the sense of the English words the guard.

The door of the king’s house is a literal translation of the Hebrew and refers to the doors or gates of the royal palace. The reference is to “the entrance to/of the royal palace” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, New International Version). The Contemporary English Version rendering “the city gates” does not express the correct meaning.

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 .