And when Hezekiah saw …: Instead of Hezekiah, the Masoretic Text reads “Jehizkiyahu,” but the context shows that Hezekiah is the intended name (see the comments on 2 Chr 28.27). Instead of the verb saw, it will be more natural in some languages to say “learned,” “knew” (New Century Version), or “realized” (New Living Translation).

That Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem: Intended to fight is literally “his face [was] for war,” which means he planned to attack. As in the previous verse, the verb had come may be left implied (so Good News Translation). It is also possible to keep it by rendering this last half of the verse as “that Sennacherib had come into Judah and intended to attack Jerusalem.” La Bible du Semeur is similar with “that Sennacherib had come with the intention of attacking Jerusalem.” Since Sennacherib had already attacked other cities in Judah, Good News Translation adds the word “also” after Jerusalem.

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 .