He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah: The pronoun He refers to Jehoshaphat, which BCI makes explicit. Fortified cities were protected by high, strong walls around the cities in contrast to smaller villages that usually had no protection from enemy armies. Forces and garrisons translate two different Hebrew words that have military connotations. The word for forces refers to soldiers and may be rendered “armed forces” (New American Bible) or “troops” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, An American Translation). The word for garrisons may also refer to military commanders (so alternative translation in Revised English Bible) or to the forces under their command (see the comments on 1 Chr 18.6). In any case, set garrisons in the land of Judah probably means the king established additional military posts throughout Judah.

And in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken: Ephraim here refers to “the territory of Ephraim,” that is, the territory where the descendants of Ephraim lived. The cities … which Asa his father had taken were the cities that King Asa had captured during the high point in his reign before his son Jehoshaphat became the ruler of Judah (see 2 Chr 15.8). The Hebrew verb rendered had taken means “to catch” or “to overthrow.” Here it is better translated “had captured” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “had seized” ( NET Bible).

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 .