King Toi of Hamath had sent David presents made of gold, silver, and bronze; and David had dedicated them to God, along with booty from other conquered nations, for use in worship (2 Sam 8.9-12; 1 Chr 18.9-11).

The things which David his father had dedicated is literally “the holy things of David his father.” The Hebrew noun rendered things … dedicated is translated “votive gifts” in 1 Kgs 15.15. A votive offering or gift was something given to a god in agreement with a vow that the person had made. If someone asked a god for help, that person would offer a gift out of gratitude when the god granted the person’s request. The whole phrase here is expressed in various ways in English, for example, “the things that his father David had dedicated to the LORD” (Good News Translation), “the gifts which his father David had consecrated” (New Jerusalem Bible), “the sacred treasures of his father David” (Revised English Bible), and “the sacred donations of his father David” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Moffatt renders this as “the votive offerings of his father David.”

Vessels renders a Hebrew noun that may cover a wide range of items, including weapons. A general term should be used in the receptor language here. Compare “utensils” (New Jerusalem Bible, An American Translation), “other articles” (New American Bible), and “various articles” (Moffatt). See also the use of this same noun in 1 Kgs 19.21, where Revised Standard Version renders it “yokes.”

The treasuries of the house of the LORD refers to rooms in the Temple that were used for keeping safe the gold, the silver, and the valuable vessels. Treasuries may be rendered “storage rooms” (Contemporary English Version) or “treasure room” (Bible en français courant).

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 .