Three times a year all Jewish men were required to go to Jerusalem to worship for the Passover, the Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters (see Exo 23.14-17; 34.22-23; Deut 16.16). While this information may be included in a footnote, it should not be included as a part of the text.

Used to offer up: The Hebrew verb translated here is literally “caused to go up.” The smoke from the sacrifices drifted upward and it was thought that the offerings also went up to God. But the verb may also be rendered “presented” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Burnt offerings: See the discussion of this offering in 1 Kgs 3.4.

Peace offerings: See the discussion of this offering in 1 Kgs 3.15.

For the altar, see 1 Kgs 8.22.

Burning incense before the LORD: See the comments on 1 Kgs 3.3. Good News Translation has the following footnote after the word “incense”: “Hebrew has two additional words, the meaning of which is unclear.” The two Hebrew words are literally “with it [or, him] which,” so the whole clause reads “burning incense with it which before the LORD.” Many modern versions do not even attempt to translate these two words, except maybe in a footnote (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised English Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders this part of the verse as follows: “and he used to offer incense on the one that was before the LORD.” This translation attempts to translate the two unclear Hebrew words here, but the resulting English translation makes little sense.

This is a difficult text, and the best solution may be to follow the interpretation in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation and indicate in a footnote that the exact meaning of the Hebrew is unclear for this part of the verse.

So he finished the house: Many interpreters consider these words to be a later addition to the text. Indeed, Moffatt does not even translate them, but they form part of the Masoretic Text and should be translated. Most understand the words to mean that by offering the sacrifices, Solomon made the Temple ready for worship, and it could then be considered finished. De Vries says “So did he finish off the Temple.”

New Jerusalem Bible indicates the summary nature of these words by writing them as a separate paragraph. But rather than seeing these words as a summary of the work of building, New American Bible says “and he kept the temple in repair.” The New American Bible rendering assumes that the form of the Hebrew verb here means “to restore damage” and not “to complete.”

There are several other interpretations for this clause. New International Version says “[Solomon] so fulfilled the temple obligations” by celebrating the three festivals in Jerusalem each year (see Exo 23.14-17; 34.23). This same interpretation is also the basis for the Bible en français courant translation, which reads “The temple was thus used according to its purpose” (similarly Parole de Vie).

The Hebrew verb translated finished may also mean “to pay/fulfill [a vow].” Some interpreters suggest that the words the house are a later addition and that the meaning originally was “and he used to discharge his vows” (so Gray) by offering these sacrifices. This interpretation is attractive, but since it is based on speculation and is not supported by manuscripts, it is better not to follow it.

This verse contains numerous wordplays on the sounds in the Hebrew name “Solomon,” but not many languages will have the possibility of capturing them in translation. Compare three (shalosh in Hebrew), Solomon (shelomoh), peace offerings (shelamim), and he finished (shilam).

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 .