Most translations take the information in this verse as the author’s own statement in addition to what was written in k The History of the Kings of Judahk*. It is, however, possible to understand that the book mentioned in the previous verse also included this information about Jehoshaphat’s removal of the pagan altars (so Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie). Parole de Vie, for example, reads “It also tells how he suppressed the men and women who prostituted themselves in order to serve foreign gods. They were still there from the time of his father Asa.”

The remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa: Regarding male cult prostitutes, see the comments on 1 Kgs 14.24. Asa had attempted to get rid of all the male prostitutes (1 Kgs 15.12).

He exterminated from the land: The Hebrew verb rendered exterminated means “to sweep away” and is used figuratively to mean “to remove” or “to destroy.” The Hebrew verb is sometimes understood to mean “drive out.” New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt and Revised English Bible, for example, say “he expelled from the country/land.” Here it more likely means that he killed the temple prostitutes. Compare “exterminated” (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version) and “stamped out” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). If translators do not wish to choose between these two interpretations, they may use a term that allows for either understanding, if such a term exists in the receptor language. Compare “He removed from the land” (New American Bible) or “He rid the land of” (God’s Word).

The land refers to the southern kingdom of Judah. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “all the territory.”

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 .