And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: Ahaziah is called “Jehoahaz” in 2 Chr 21.17 (see the comments there). At the beginning of this new section it will be helpful to make it clear that the pronoun his refers to Jehoram. New Century Version does this by rendering his youngest son as “Jehoram’s youngest son.”

For the band of men that came with the Arabs to the camp had slain all the older sons: See 2 Chr 21.16-17. This verse seems to say the Arabs led the raid and did not merely join it. No mention is made of a camp in 21.16-17. Some scholars think the Hebrew text originally read lammilchamah (“to the battle”) rather than lammachaneh (“to the camp”). Revised English Bible says “in the campaign” but states in a footnote that the Hebrew is literally “in the camp.” If the Hebrew text is correct, the sense is probably “to the Judean military camp” (Bible en français courant). Good News Translation avoids the problem by expressing this whole sentence as “Some Arabs had led a raid and killed all of King Jehoram’s sons except Ahaziah, the youngest.” Good News Translation places this sentence at the beginning of the verse since it is known information. Other languages may find this restructuring helpful.

So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned: Good News Translation combines this clause with the first sentence of the verse, which other languages may find useful.

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 .