Good News Translation justifiably decides to make the two-level direct quotation in this verse into an indirect statement. Its wording provides a much simpler model for many languages than the literal rendering of Revised Standard Version.

And she said to them: As noted at the end of the discussion on the previous verse, in some languages the third person masculine and feminine pronouns have the same form. If use of the pronoun she may result in ambiguity here, it will be better to use the name “Huldah.” In this context the verb said may be better translated “responded” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “replied” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “answered” (King James Version, Revised English Bible).

Thus says the LORD: For this introductory formula, see the comments on 1 Chr 17.4. It is repeated again in the next verse.

Tell the man who sent you to me: Since the words the man who sent you to me refer to the king, Good News Translation translates the meaning directly instead of imitating the circumlocution of the Hebrew text. However, it may be appropriate to retain the emphasis on the fact that this delegation had been sent by the king. The wording is fairly common in prophetic utterances. It is used by the prophet Elijah to the delegation from King Ahaziah (2 Kgs 1.6). Jeremiah also uses this kind of expression to send a message to King Zedekiah of Judah (Jer 37.7). Perhaps the prophetess says the man who sent you rather than “the king who sent you” because she is speaking on behalf of God, for whom the king is merely a man. In any case, verse 26 explicitly identifies the king as the one who sent these men.

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 .