They gave it to the carpenters and the builders: The pronoun They refers to the supervisors of the Temple reconstruction. The money they gave to the Temple repair workers was not a gift since what follows explains how the money was to be spent, so New Living Translation begins this verse with “They hired….” The Hebrew noun rendered carpenters refers to “craftsmen” in general. In some contexts (for example, 2 Sam 5.11), it refers to craftsmen who work with wood. In other contexts (for example, 1 Sam 13.19, where it is rendered “smith”), it refers to craftsmen who work with metal. Here, as in 2 Chr 24.12, this noun refers to craftsmen who work with wood. The Hebrew word for builders is a general term used for the other workers involved in the reconstruction of the Temple.

To buy quarried stone, and timber for binders and beams for the buildings: Quarried stone refers to stones that have been prepared for use in building by cutting them into the desired shapes and sizes necessary for the job at hand. This type of stone is referred to in other translations as “dressed stone[s]” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt), “hewn stone” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, An American Translation), “squared stone” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or “cut stone” (New Century Version). Timber is literally “trees.” Many languages have no special word for timber, so it may be necessary to speak of “trees,” “cut trees,” or “large pieces of wood.” For the Hebrew word rendered binders, see the comments on 1 Chr 22.3, where it is rendered “clamps.” Here it probably refers to braces that joined two boards together. New International Version says “joists,” NET Bible has “braces,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses “couplings.” For the wooden beams used in construction, see the discussion in WTH, pages 138-140|fig:WTH.3.1.5.3.Crossbeam, rafter.138-140.html. Buildings translates the Hebrew noun for “houses.” Here, as in 1 Chr 28.11, the noun may refer to chambers that were part of the Temple. However, nearly all the versions say “buildings.”

Which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin: No specific kings of Judah are named, but the writer probably had in mind Ahaz, Manasseh, and Amon. Instead of saying simply the kings of Judah, which may imply all the kings in some languages, it may be better in those cases to say “certain kings of Judah,” since not all of them had failed to take care of the Temple buildings. The Hebrew verb translated had let go to ruin has both an active and a passive sense. In some contexts it means “to destroy” or “to ruin deliberately,” so An American Translation and La Bible Pléiade say “had destroyed.” However, Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation give a more passive meaning here, suggesting that the kings had not actively destroyed the buildings but had rather neglected to take care of them. Contemporary English Version says they “had not taken care of” these buildings, while Revised English Bible indicates that they “had allowed [them] to fall into disrepair.”

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 .