And Josiah took away all the abominations …: Josiah was last mentioned by name in the Hebrew text in verse 1. Good News Translation adds “King” before his name here for clarity. The fourfold repetition of the word all in this verse is probably intended to underline the thoroughness with which Josiah undertook his reform program. The abominations refers to “the disgusting idols” (Good News Translation) of the pagan nations that were in the land before the arrival of the people of Israel. For the Hebrew word translated abominations, see the comments on 2 Chr 28.3, where it is rendered “abominable practices.”

The territory that belonged to the people of Israel probably refers to the whole land of Israel and not just to the northern kingdom here.

New Living Translation provides a helpful model for the first sentence of this verse, saying “So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the LORD their God.”

All his days may be rendered “as long as he lived” (Good News Translation) or “during all his reign” (Moffatt).

They did not turn away from following the LORD the God of their fathers: New Century Version uses a positive expression here, saying “the people obeyed the LORD, the God of their ancestors.”

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 .