The information in this verse provides background information and briefly interrupts the flow of the story. For this reason the verse may be placed in parentheses (so Good News Translation, NET Bible, Moffatt, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). However, the initial conjunction For and the past perfect verb forms in Revised Standard Version may be sufficient in some languages to indicate the parenthetical nature of the content of this verse.
The sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God: The Masoretic Text says that only the sons of Athaliah had damaged the Temple. But according to the Septuagint, Athaliah also was guilty of the same act. Revised English Bible, which follows the Septuagint here, says “the wicked Athaliah and her adherents had broken into the house of God.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends the Masoretic Text reading with a {B} rating. New Revised Standard Version uses inclusive language here by rendering the sons of Athaliah as “the children of Athaliah,” but in this context the Hebrew noun for sons most likely means “followers” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje) rather than biological sons (or, children). Moffatt more specifically says “priests,” which probably expresses the intended meaning.
Regarding Athaliah, Joash’s grandmother, see 2 Chr 22.10-12. That wicked woman translates a Hebrew noun that is in apposition to Athaliah. The Hebrew word means “[embodiment of] wickedness.” The alternative rendering in Good News Translation takes this word as more active by referring to the effects of her wickedness on her followers, saying “whom she corrupted.”
The Hebrew verb rendered broken into refers to damaging or destroying a building, so Good News Translation is better with “damaged.”
And had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD for the Baals: The dedicated things (literally “the holy things”) were the objects set aside for the worship of Yahweh (see the comments on 2 Chr 5.1). The fact that these objects had been used in the worship of Baal would have made them unfit for further use in the worship of Yahweh. For Baals see the comments on 2 Chr 17.3.
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 .