But they conspired against him: Instead of paying attention to the warning of Zechariah, the people of Judah plotted against him. For this reason the common Hebrew conjunction may be translated But (also New International Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible). But it is also possible to translate it as a temporal connector, saying “Then” (New Living Translation, Nouvelle Bible Segond) or “After that” (Parole de Vie). The pronoun they may be rendered “the people of Judah” (Contemporary English Version). The Hebrew verb translated conspired comes from a root meaning “to tie” or “to bind together.” The plotters secretly bound themselves to each other to do harm to Zechariah. This clause may be expressed as “But they made common cause against him” (Revised English Bible) or “After that, the people formed a plot against Zechariah” (Parole de Vie).

And by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD: By command of the king indicates that King Joash was involved in the plot against Zechariah also. He gave the actual order for Zechariah’s execution. They stoned him with stones is redundant in English, so Good News Translation omits the words with stones (see the comments on 2 Chr 10.18). This clause most likely means “they killed him by throwing stones on him” (similarly Parole de Vie) although few versions make the death of Zechariah explicit here. However, it becomes clear in the next verse that he died. Jesus referred to the murder of innocent Zechariah in Matt 23.35 and Luke 11.51 (see the comments on “Title and place within the Old Testament” in “Translating 1-2 Chronicles,” page 3). The court of the house of the LORD probably refers to the Temple’s inner courtyard (see Matt 23.35 and the comments on 2 Chr 4.9).

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 .