I will dwell among the children of Israel: Good News Translation makes explicit what is only implicit in Hebrew, that is, that God will dwell among the Israelites “in this Temple” (also Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). 1 Kgs 9.3 states explicitly that God will dwell in the Temple. An alternative rendering for this clause is “Here I will live among my people Israel.”

The children of Israel (see the comments on this expression in verse 1, where it is rendered “the people of Israel”) and my people Israel refer to the same people, not to children and adults.

And will not forsake my people: The Hebrew verb rendered forsake means “to leave,” “to give [someone] up,” “to abandon” (so Good News Translation). The Hebrew says only that God will not abandon his people. In the context, however, God’s promise is unconditional as long as Solomon continues to obey God. For this reason many translations say “I will never abandon/forsake…” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

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 .