These were in the service of the king: The demonstrative pronoun These refers to the military personnel mentioned in verses 13b-18. In some languages it will better to say “These soldiers” (Good News Translation) or “These were the troops” (New Living Translation). Good News Translation makes it explicit that these soldiers were “in Jerusalem” (see verse 13).

Besides those whom the king had placed in fortified cities throughout all Judah: King Jehoshaphat also had soldiers in all the other fortified cities of Judah.

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 .