He built Tadmor in the wilderness: The Hebrew verb for built, which occurs twice in this verse, is the same one rendered “rebuilt” in the verse 2. As there, it can mean “rebuilt” (Bible en français courant) or “fortified” (Good News Translation) here. Tadmor was an oasis city in the Syrian desert about 225 kilometers (140 miles) northeast of Damascus and almost 485 kilometers (300 miles) north of Jerusalem. Good News Translation calls Tadmor “Palmyra,” which is the name given to this city during the Hellenistic period. But this is anachronistic and probably should be avoided, although this information could be given in a footnote, as Nouvelle Bible Segond has done. Wilderness is probably better translated “desert” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Century Version). See the comments on 1 Chr 12.8.

And all the store-cities which he built in Hamath: Store-cities (literally “cities of storage”) were towns that served as places for the storage of government supplies, including food and weapons. The people who lived in these towns guarded and cared for the supplies. Good News Translation renders store-cities as “cities … that were centers for storing supplies.” Some other possible translations are “towns for storing grain and supplies” (New Century Version), “towns … as supply centers” (New Living Translation), and “storage towns” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible). For Hamath see the comments on 1 Chr 18.3. By capturing both Tadmor and Hamath, Solomon won control over the major trade routes in the north.

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 .