But now translates the common Hebrew conjunction and a temporal adverb. Since verses 3 and 4 express a contrast between the political instability of David’s rule and the peace of Solomon’s rule, the conjunction here is correctly translated But. Most versions translate the temporal adverb as now, but another possible model is “at present” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).
The LORD my God: As noted in the previous verse, translators must be sure that the words “his God” and my God, when used of David and Solomon, do not suggest that they worshiped different gods. However, Hiram was not a member of the people of Israel and did not worship Yahweh.
Has given me rest on every side: In Deut 12.10-11 Moses told the Israelite people that after they had entered the Promised Land and when God had given them rest from all their enemies around them, then they were to offer sacrifices in the place that God would choose. To have rest in this context means to have security and peace with the surrounding nations. The singular pronoun, me, refers to Solomon as ruler and representative of the people of Israel. If a literal rendering would give the impression that only Solomon had peace, then it may be better to translate me as “my kingdom.”
In this particular context the words on every side refer to the nations surrounding Israel (see the comments on verse 3). For this reason Good News Translation says “on all my borders” and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente has “on all the borders of my kingdom.”
There is neither adversary: The Hebrew noun rendered adversary is satan. It later came to be considered the name of the devil. As in 1 Kgs 11.14, 23, 25; 1 Sam 29.4; 2 Sam 19.22; and Num 22.22, 32 (where Revised Standard Version has “to withstand”), the term refers here to a human opponent or “enemy” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) and is not a proper name. Compare Revised English Bible: “there is no one to oppose me.”
The noun translated misfortune translates two Hebrew words, meaning “evil occurrent” (King James Version). The reference may be to natural disaster. Compare “disaster” (New International Version), “evil circumstance” (De Vries), and “mischance” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but in this context the reference seems to be to military threat. Later on rebellions broke out against Solomon, so in this context misfortune carries the more specific meaning of “danger of attack” (Good News Translation; similarly Revised English Bible).
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 .