The LORD, the God of their fathers may be rendered “Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors worshiped.”

Sent persistently to them by his messengers is literally “sent to them by the hand of his messengers to get up and to send.” Good News Translation says “had continued to send prophets to warn his people,” New International Version has “sent word to them through his messengers again and again,” and Moffatt translates “sent warning to them by his messengers, eagerly and earnestly.” In some languages the idea of persistent sending may be conveyed by using a verb form that indicates repetition.

Because he had compassion on his people …: The Hebrew verb rendered had compassion is a word that indicates a reticence or unwillingness to do harm. Yahweh withheld punishment and treated his people with tenderness. Some other translations of had compassion on his people are “had pity on his people” (New International Version), “felt sorry for his people” (Contemporary English Version), and “wanted to spare his people” (La Bible du Semeur).

His dwelling place refers to “the Temple” (Good News Translation), not heaven.

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 .