For forks (verse 16), see the comments on 1 Chr 28.17. These were forks with two prongs, used for handling the meat that was offered as sacrifices. Berkeley says “pronged meat-forks.” Contemporary English Version and New International Version use “meat forks.” Since the word fork may cause readers to think of the utensil that people eat with in many cultures today, a translation such as “meat hooks” (La Bible du Semeur) may be preferable.

The parallel text in 1 Kgs 7.45 has “basins” (mizraqoth in Hebrew) instead of forks (mizlagoth in Hebrew). The two Hebrew words are similar. Verses 8 and 11 also mention “basins.” Revised English Bible follows the parallel text in 1 Kgs 7.45 by saying “tossing-bowls” here in verse 16. However, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the reading forks and argues that the presence of “basins” in verse 11 caused some scribes of ancient manuscripts to write “basins” also here in verse 16.

All the equipment for these (verse 16) refers to all the items mentioned in verses 12-16a, so Good News Translation and Revised English Bible say “all these objects” and Contemporary English Version has “all these things.”

Huram-abi (verse 16): See the comments on 2 Chr 2.13. Among the translations that take abi as a title, compare “Master Huram” (Revised English Bible), “the trusty Huram” (Moffatt), and “Huram, his honored craftsman” (Berkeley).

Burnished bronze means the bronze was polished or rubbed with a soft material such as a cloth to make it shiny or lustrous. Many languages will speak of “polished bronze” (Good News Translation, New Century Version, New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

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 .