This verse begins in Hebrew with an adverb rendered however in Revised Standard Version and numerous other English translations. This common Hebrew adverb expresses some kind of restriction or exception. In this context it introduces an exception to the statement in verse 1 regarding the building of the Temple and explains why the Israelite people were continuing to sacrifice at the high places instead of in the Temple.

The people were sacrificing at the high places: The people referred to here are, of course, the people of Israel. And in view of the fact that Egypt is mentioned in the previous verse, it might be a good idea in some cases to make this explicit. For were sacrificing, see 1 Kgs 1.9.

This is the first mention of high places (bamot in Hebrew; plural of bamah) in 1–2 Kings. In his fourth-century translation into Latin, Jerome rendered the Hebrew term bamah with the Latin word excelsus, which is the basis for the English translation “high place.” Most scholars today recognize that high places is not an adequate translation, since many bamot were not located on hills or other high places. Perhaps the best translation in English is “open shrines” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). In other languages it may be possible to say something like “altars in many places of worship” (New Century Version) or “local altars” (New Living Translation) since altars were often located at these places of worship. In fact, verse 4 makes it clear that there was an altar at the high place in Gibeon. The bamot were local places of worship not connected with the Temple in Jerusalem. In this context readers may wrongly think that the high places were all located in Jerusalem. For this reason a translation such as “sacred places of the country” (Parole de Vie) may be preferred.

Because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD is literally “for a house had not been built for the name of the LORD unto those days.” To speak of a person’s name often included the idea of speaking about a person’s character, reputation, or being. To build a house for the name of the LORD means to build a temple where people will be able to honor or worship God. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “… a temple dedicated to the Lord” and Peregrino has “… in honor of the Lord.”

It will be noted that some modern versions restructure this verse so that the reason (because no house had yet been built …) is given before the consequence (The people were sacrificing …). In languages where the reason can come only before the consequence, a possible model is:

• However, the Temple in honor of the LORD had not yet been built. This is why the people [of Israel] were still sacrificing at various places of worship.

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 .