But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage: But translates the common Hebrew conjunction. The priest Jehoiada had been afraid of Queen Athaliah for six years while he and his wife Jehosheba hid Joash, the son of Ahaziah, from her (see 2 Chr 22.11-12), but now he was no longer afraid to act by making Joash king. The majority of modern versions do not translate this conjunction since it is an awkward way to begin a new section. The seventh year would have been 837 or 835 B.C. Good News Translation says “After waiting six years,” which is a natural way in English of expressing this time lapse. Took courage is literally “strengthened himself” (King James Version, NASB). But this expression may be understood in two rather different ways. God’s Word interprets it to mean “strengthened his position,” and Dillard is similar with “consolidated his power.” But the majority of modern versions take it in the same sense as Revised Standard Version by saying “determined” (Anchor Bible), “decided to take action” (New Jerusalem Bible), “made a bold move” ( NET Bible), or “was emboldened to act” (Knox).

And entered into a compact with the commanders of hundreds …: Compact translates a Hebrew noun that Revised Standard Version usually renders “covenant” (so New International Version, NASB). Several versions translate it simply as “agreement” (New Century Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible) or “pact” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). But New American Bible brings out the intrigue involved by rendering entered into a compact as “entered a conspiracy.” Commanders of hundreds refers to military commanders (see the comments on 1 Chr 13.1). Good News Translation and Moffatt say “army officers,” which is a more generic expression than what is in the Hebrew. New International Version has “commanders of units of a hundred,” and New Jerusalem Bible translates “regimental commanders.” The text then provides the names of five of these officers. (This list of names does not occur in the parallel text of 2 Kgs 11.) Each person is said to be the son of someone else. For languages where it is important to know this information, the names that follow this expression were most likely the fathers of the men mentioned and not their mothers.

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 .