When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness: Judah refers to the army of Judah under the leadership of King Jehoshaphat, so Good News Translation says “the Judean army.” The Hebrew word rendered watchtower may refer to a particular structure built by human beings from which an area is be viewed (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version). Versions that understand the word in this way render the watchtower of the wilderness as “their post of attack looking over the open country” (Moffatt), “the observation post overlooking the desert” ( NET Bible), and “a tower that was in the desert” (Good News Translation). But the Hebrew noun may just as likely refer to a high natural point from which a person has a good view. This is the basis for renderings such as “the vantage-ground that overlooks the desert” (Knox), “the place that overlooks the desert” (New International Version), “a hill from which it was possible to see the desert” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), “the point overlooking the desert” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “the lookout point in the wilderness” (New Living Translation; similarly NASB). It is not clear whether this place was man-made or natural. In any case, what is most important is that it was a place where the army of Judah could look out over the entire area. The wilderness here refers to the desert area near Tekoa (see verse 20).

They looked toward the multitude: The multitude refers to the enemy soldiers. So it is possible to translate this phrase as “the enemy’s large army” (New Century Version) or “the enemy host” (Revised English Bible).

And behold, they were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped: In spite of the fact that the people of Judah had been told in advance that they would not have to fight, all the enemy corpses must have been a surprising and awe-inspiring sight. The Hebrew focusing particle rendered behold highlights the surprising nature of what they saw.

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 .