And he said to Judah: Judah refers to “the people of Judah” (Good News Translation), as in verse 4. Revised English Bible, which uses inclusive language when the Hebrew seems to include both women and men, says “the men of Judah” here. From what is known of the biblical world, it seems likely that the work of fortifying cities would have been done by men, but without that specific information in the text, it may be better to use an inclusive expression as Good News Translation has done.

Let us build these cities: In this context the verb build is better rendered “fortify” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant) or “rebuild” (New Jerusalem Bible). See the comments on the previous verse.

And surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars: For walls, gates and bars, see the comments on 2 Chr 8.5. Archaeological evidence indicates that city towers were made of stones or bricks and could be square or round. They were built into the wall of a city around 30 meters (100 feet) apart. From the towers guards could watch the countryside around the city and also be protected. For more information on city towers, see WTH, pages 171-172|fig:WTH.Watchtower.171-172.html. For this whole clause Revised English Bible has “with walls round them, and towers and barred gates.”

The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God: Since Asa is speaking to the people of Judah, the first person plural pronouns ours, we and us are inclusive. For we have sought the LORD, see the comments on 2Chr 14.4.

We have sought him translates the Hebrew word darashnu (literally “we have sought”). Revised Standard Version has added the pronoun him as English grammar requires. Some interpreters, following the ancient versions, think that the Masoretic Text contains an error here and correct it to read “he has sought us” (derashanu; so Good News Translation, La Bible Pléiade, and the footnote in Bible en français courant). If the Masoretic Text is followed, then this clause basically repeats the previous clause we have sought the LORD our God. But if the Masoretic Text is corrected as in La Bible Pléiade, then the sense is “because we have sought the LORD our God, he has sought us [to protect us] and has given us peace….” Translators should follow the Masoretic Text here.

And he has given us peace on every side may be rendered “and he has given us peace with all our neighbors” (similarly BTI).

So they built and prospered: In some languages the verb built will require an object either for clarification or for stylistic reasons. If so, they built may be rendered “they rebuilt the cities” (similarly NET Bible). For this whole sentence Parole de Vie has “And the people succeeded in building well-protected cities.”

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 .