So renders the common Hebrew conjunction. This verse functions as a summary statement, so several English translations begin the sentence with the word So (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, New Living Translation).

Hebrew uses two verbs here, which are rendered built and finished, while Good News Translation combines these two verbs into the one expression “finished building,” just as in verse 9.

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 .