Behold …: The Hebrew focusing particle rendered Behold serves to direct the attention of King Hiram (and of the reader of this quotation) toward the fact that something important is about to be said. It introduces the announcement that an important building project was about to be started. New Jerusalem Bible renders it “You see.” Other languages may have very different devices for focusing attention, but in cases where such a device is commonly used, it should probably appear at the beginning of this discourse.

I am about to build a house: The Septuagint says “I his son am about to build a house” (similarly Dillard). Since the Hebrew word for “his son” (beno) is similar to the word translated am about to build (bowneh), it is possible that the Hebrew word for “his son” was accidentally omitted. Either way, the meaning is essentially the same. Some translations take the Hebrew pronoun for I as emphatic. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, for example, begins this verse with “Now, behold that I, I want to build a House.” However, the pronoun is required by the grammatical construction in Hebrew and does not draw special attention to Solomon. The Hebrew participle after this pronoun may be translated literally “am building” (Good News Translation). But most modern versions take it to refer to an event in the near future by saying am about to build (also Revised English Bible), “intend to build” (New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “want to build” (God’s Word), or “will build” (New Century Version).

For the name of the LORD my God: See the comments on 2Chr 2.1.

And dedicate it to him is literally “to dedicate to him.” Revised Standard Version has added the pronoun it as the object of the verb since the context requires an object. Nouvelle Bible Segond supplies the word “offerings” as the object of the verb, saying “in order to dedicate offerings to him.” New Jerusalem Bible has “to acknowledge his holiness.”

For the burning of incense …: The connecting word for translates a Hebrew preposition and serves to introduce the more specific purposes for which the Temple would be built. Three different items are mentioned: (1) the burning of incense of sweet spices, (2) the continual offering of the showbread, and (3) burnt offerings. The burnt offerings are further described in terms of the times at which they would be offered: morning and evening, on the sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts.

For the burning of incense, see Exo 30.1-10, as well as the comments on 1 Chr 23.13. The Hebrew noun for incense comes from the same root as the verb translated burning. Sweet spices refers to fragrant smelling substances, not to spices used for cooking. Incense of sweet spices may be translated in some languages as “sweet-smelling incense” (Nouvelle version Segond révisée), “aromatic incense” (La Bible du Semeur), or “fragrant incense” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible).

For showbread see Lev 24.5-9 and the comments on 1 Chr 9.32.

For burnt offerings, see the comments on 1 Chr 16.1.

For sabbaths see Num 28.9-10 and the comments on 1 Chr 9.32.

For new moons, see Num 28.11-15 and the comments on 1 Chr 23.31. The new moons may be translated “the first day of each month” (Bible en français courant) or “at the beginning of every month” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente; similarly Peregrino. Some African languages say “when the big moon appears.”

For the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, see the comments on 1 Chr 23.31. These feasts were annual feasts, so God’s Word translates “the annual festivals appointed by the LORD our God.” The LORD our God contrasts with the LORD my God earlier in the verse. At the beginning of the verse Solomon emphasizes his own devotion to God. Here he includes his people with the pronoun our. However, this pronoun is exclusive since it refers to Solomon and the Israelite people but does not include the king of Tyre, to whom his words are addressed.

As ordained for ever for Israel is literally “for ever this for/upon Israel.” The verb ordained is supplied by Revised Standard Version as the sense requires. This clause emphasizes that the sacrificial system which Solomon intended to follow in the newly built Temple would be the same one that Yahweh had established for the people of Israel from the time of the Exodus and that it would be a permanent system. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “as is Israel’s eternal duty.” Compare also “for this is a duty laid on Israel for ever” (Revised English Bible). New Century Version makes a separate sentence of this clause, saying “This is a rule for Israel to obey forever.” Nearly all versions treat this clause as part of Solomon’s words, but it may also be understood as the writer’s parenthetical comment to the reader. God’s Word, for example, places the words “These festivals are always to be celebrated by Israel” within parentheses.

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 .