The common Hebrew conjunction rendered But (also New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible) may be translated in this way because there is an implied contrast between life in Judah before and after Jehoiada’s death. But since the contrast does not appear until several verses later, many versions omit the conjunction here (so Good News Translation).

Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and he died means he died after living a long time. Long life was seen as a reward for faithfulness to God. But a literal translation of grew old and full of days may be quite unnatural in other languages. So translators should seek the most natural way in their language to express the notion that Jehoiada became very old. Revised English Bible says “old and weighed down with years,” while New American Bible uses the idiom “lived to a ripe old age” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

He was a hundred and thirty years old at his death may be rendered “He was 130 years old when he died” (God’s Word).

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 .