The throne had six steps …: In the Hebrew text the writer refers to the six steps in verse 18 and then describes the footstool and the arm rests before coming back to say more about the six steps in verse 19. There may have been symbolic significance in the number of steps but that significance is uncertain; in any case, it should not be inserted into the translation of the text. While Revised Standard Version may be understood to mean that the steps were a part of the throne, Good News Translation correctly renders the beginning of this verse as “Six steps led up to the throne.” Bible en français courant is similar with “This throne was situated on a platform having six steps.”
A footstool of gold: The Hebrew noun translated footstool (kevesh) occurs only here in the Old Testament. A variant reading has “lamb” (keves in Hebrew) here, but this is probably not original. The parallel text in 1 Kgs 10.19 in the Septuagint says that the back of the throne had a calf’s head. Some interpreters think that is what the Hebrew text originally said in 1 Kings, that is, “calf’s head,” and that the writer of 2 Chronicles changed “calf” to “lamb” in order to avoid the appearance of idolatry; and then later a scribe changed the word keves to kevesh. Of gold probably means the footstool was “covered with gold” (Good News Translation).
Which were attached to the throne: The Hebrew participle translated which were attached is plural, which may mean that this word refers to the steps rather than to the footstool. Good News Translation and most other versions have only the footstool attached to the throne. The Hebrew verb here comes from the root meaning “to grasp” or “to hold on to.” However, some interpreters think that the Hebrew verb comes from a different root with the same spelling, meaning “to cover.” This interpretation, which requires different vowels from those in the Masoretic Text, is the basis for the following Revised English Bible translation of the beginning of this verse: “Six steps and a footstool for the throne were all encased in gold.”
And on each side of the seat were arm rests and two lions standing beside the arm rests: The throne had two arm rests (literally “hands”). Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible call them “arms,” and some languages say “elbow places.” Lions were symbols of the tribe of Judah (see Gen 49.9). These were not real lions but rather “sculptured lions” (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). Two lions standing beside the arm rests means there was one lion on each side, not two on each side as a literal translation such as Revised Standard Version may incorrectly suggest. Archaeological discoveries indicate that some thrones from the ancient Near East had arms that were supported by carved animal figures, including lions, which symbolized strength and power. But the text here seems to state clearly that the lions were standing beside the arm rests and not supporting them.
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 .