In the four hundred and eightieth year …: In order to indicate when Solomon built the Temple, the writer dates this in relationship to one of the most important events in the history of Israel—the Exodus from Egypt 480 years earlier. This corresponds to the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, specifically the second month of the fourth year. This verse begins with the Hebrew words rendered “And it came to pass” in King James Version. Since a new section begins here, it may not be necessary to translate this verbal transition here.

People of Israel is literally “sons of Israel” (Reina-Valera revisada, Osty-Trinquet; King James Version “children of Israel”). Since the reference is to all of the Israelite people, and not just “sons” or “children,” most modern translations say “people of Israel.” Translators in other languages will need to find the appropriate term or expression in their own languages.

The month of Ziv (mentioned also in verse 37) corresponds to the time from the middle of April to the middle of May. Peregrino says “the month of May (or, the second month)” and New Living Translation reads “midspring.” Since many readers will assume that the second month means “February,” the Peregrino translation has the clear advantage of indicating the correct month for readers today. However, it is not recommended that the modern names of months be used. Another solution may be to translate the Hebrew literally and place an explanation in a footnote. See Appendix A, “The Hebrew Calendar.” The New Living Translation rendering is a good model.

He began to build translates a single Hebrew verb. Since verse 38 states that it took seven years to build the Temple, translators should not use a verb form here in verse 1 that will suggest that the entire building process took place during the month of Ziv.

The house of the LORD is the Temple.

It may be more natural in certain languages to restructure this verse along the lines of Contemporary English Version, which attempts to focus more on the actual construction work by moving this element to the beginning of the verse:

• Solomon’s workers started building the temple during Ziv*, the second month of the year. It had been four years since Solomon became king of Israel, and four hundred eighty years since the people of Israel left Egypt.
*Ziv: The second month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-April to mid-May.

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 .