And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel: Since Jehoshaphat was the last speaker in the previous verse, some languages may require a different verb than said here to introduce his additional remark. Good News Translation and New Living Translation use the verb “added,” while New Century Version translates “also said.” Contemporary English Version simply omits this introductory statement and continues the quotation of Jehoshaphat’s words from verse 3.

Inquire first for the word of the LORD means find out first what God’s will is in this matter. Good News Translation changes the focus here somewhat by rendering Inquire as “let’s consult” (similarly Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible), which makes the inquiry a joint effort. But it is better to follow Revised Standard Version here, which more closely expresses the sense of the Hebrew in which King Jehoshaphat tells the king of Israel what the latter should do. The Masoretic Text has the Hebrew particle of entreaty following the verb Inquire. This particle is often translated “please” or “I pray” (see the comments on 1 Chr 21.8). Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation attempts to express the force of this particle. Moffatt renders it by translating this whole clause as “But first of all … pray find out what the Eternal has to say,” but this is archaic-sounding English. A more natural English rendering is “Please, first find out what the LORD has to say.” If there is a natural way of translating this particle in the receptor language, this nuance of meaning should be preserved.

First is literally “as the day.” This expression may be rendered “right now,” “today” (Jewish Publication Version), or “before we do anything else.”

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 .