The high places, however, were not taken away: See the comments on 1 Chr 15.17. The connector however translates a Hebrew adverb that marks the contrast between the positive evaluation of the reign of Jehoshaphat in the previous verse and the negative statement that follows here. This adverb is actually the first word in the Hebrew text of the verse. New Revised Standard Version has “Yet,” while many other versions use “but” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible). For high places, see the comments on 1 Chr 16.39 and 2 Chr 1.3. The passive expression were not taken away will have to be made active in some languages. While the text is somewhat ambiguous, the intent is probably that Jehoshaphat, who should have removed the pagan places of worship, did not do so. Contemporary English Version places the blame squarely on Jehoshaphat by saying “he did not destroy the local shrines.” New Living Translation is similar with “he failed to remove all the pagan shrines.”

The people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers means the people of Judah still did not follow the LORD faithfully. For the expression set their hearts, see the comments on 2 Chr 11.16. Fathers refers to “ancestors” (Good News Translation) in this context. For this whole clause New Living Translation has “and the people never fully committed themselves to following the God of their ancestors.” Since the Hebrew word for hearts refers more to the faculty of thinking than to the emotions, Knox says “not yet had his people turned their whole minds to worshipping the Lord, the God of their fathers.”

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 .