Then Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary is literally “And Hilkiyahu answered and he said….” Since Hilkiah was the subject of the last verb in verse 14, Good News Translation substitutes the pronoun “He” for the proper name. Moreover, Good News Translation omits the information that Shaphan was a secretary to King Josiah. But since this information has not been previously stated in the chapter, it should be translated here. The Hebrew noun translated secretary has been traditionally translated “scribe” (King James Version, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Reina-Valera revisada). The primary task of such individuals was keeping administrative records, either for the king or for the Temple (see the comments on 1 Chr 18.16 and 2 Chr 24.11).

I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD: This direct quotation, which reflects the direct discourse of the Hebrew, may be made into indirect discourse by beginning this verse with “Then Hilkiah told Shaphan that he had found the book of the Law in the Temple.”

And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan: New Century Version says simply “Then he gave it to Shaphan.”

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 .