Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah: The imperative verbs rendered Go and inquire are plural in Hebrew since the king is addressing more than one person. New Living Translation renders Go as “Go to the Temple” to make explicit what is implied. For inquire of the LORD, see the comments on 1 Chr 21.30 and 2 Chr 18.4. Israel here refers to the people of the northern kingdom.

Concerning the words of the book that has been found refers to the message or teachings of the book (or, scroll) that had been found. Revised English Bible renders the words of the book as “the contents of the scroll.” But New International Version may provide a better model with “what is written in this book.” The passive expression that has been found may be made active by saying “that Hilkiah has found” (see verse 14).

For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us: The connector for introduces the reason why King Josiah was instructing this delegation to confer with Yahweh. It was because the king believed that Yahweh was angry with the people of Judah and Israel.

That is poured out on us is the reading in the Masoretic Text. The Septuagint says “that is kindled against us,” which means “that has set us on fire.” The Septuagint reading seems to emend the text to harmonize it with the parallel text in 2 Kgs 22.13. New American Bible follows the Septuagint by saying “has been set furiously ablaze against us.” However, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text here in 2 Chronicles. Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other modern versions follow the Masoretic Text. In any case, even though the imagery is different between the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint here, the sense of both is that God is very angry with his people. Instead of saying great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, it may be more natural to say “the LORD is very angry with us” or “the LORD is furious with us.”

Because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD …: The transition word because introduces the reason for the LORD’s anger. In view of the long and complicated sentence that begins in verse 21, it may be better to begin a new sentence at this point, reminding the reader that this is an explanation of why Yahweh was angry with his people. Good News Translation provides a good model for this restructuring.

As is often the case, the word fathers means “ancestors,” and this should be made clear in translation.

All that is written in this book may be rendered “all that this book contains.”

Revised English Bible transforms the first half of this quotation into indirect discourse, but some languages may need to use it for the whole quotation. A possible model for this is:

• The king asked them to go and seek guidance of the LORD on his behalf and on behalf of all who still remained in Israel and Judah, about the contents of the book that Hilkiah had discovered. He explained that the wrath of the LORD was really great and the LORD was pouring it out on them, because their forefathers did not observe the LORD’s command and do all that was written in that book.

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 .