Solomon prayed to God in verses 1-2, but here he begins to address the people of Israel. For this reason Parole de Vie begins a new section at verse 3 called “Solomon’s speech for the consecration of the temple.”

Then the king faced about: Then (also New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) renders the common Hebrew conjunction, which may be understood as a temporal connector here. But it is also possible to leave this relationship implied as Good News Translation and many other versions have done. Faced about is literally “turned his face,” which may be rendered “turned around” (New Revised Standard Version, Moffatt) or “turned toward” (Contemporary English Version).

And blessed all the assembly of Israel: In some languages only God is able to bless people. In those cases Good News Translation provides a good model for the meaning of blessed by saying “asked God’s blessing on” (see the comments on 1 Chr 16.2). The Hebrew noun rendered assembly is different from the one translated “congregation” in 2 Chr 5.6, but these two nouns seem to be synonymous, so translators may use the same term in the receptor language if necessary. If any distinction exists, it may be that the noun rendered “congregation” refers to the community whether or not it has gathered or assembled together. The noun translated assembly is used of the community when it has gathered together. But in 5.6 the community is assembled, so the terms are synonymous in this context. Good News Translation does not retain this idea by rendering all the assembly of Israel as “All the people of Israel.” A better model is “the whole assembly of Israelites” (Revised English Bible) or “the whole community of Israel” (New American Bible).

While all the assembly of Israel stood: Stood renders a Hebrew participle. It does not indicate that the people had been sitting but now they stood. Rather, it simply means that they were standing, with no indication of whether they had been previously sitting or standing. For this reason New International Version provides a better model with “was standing” (similarly Good News Translation).

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 .