But Abijah grew mighty: This clause begins with the common Hebrew conjunction. Here the conjunction may be translated But or “however” (Good News Translation) since it introduces a contrast with the previous verse. Jeroboam lost his power, but Abijah became more powerful. Parole de Vie begins with “On the contrary” (similarly New Living Translation, Bible en français courant). Abijah grew mighty may be rendered “Abijah continued to grow stronger” (New American Bible).

And he took fourteen wives, and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters: As in 2 Chr 11.21, large families were considered a sign of God’s blessing. He took fourteen wives does not mean Abijah took the wives of other men. Rather, he married fourteen women. The Hebrew is literally “he lifted up for himself fourteen wives.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .