This verse begins in Hebrew with no conjunction. Since the money from the two kinds of offerings listed here was not used for the repairs of the Temple, New Living Translation begins the verse with the word “However” to show the contrast between how this money was used and how the money in the previous verses was used (see especially verse 4). Unlike the offering mentioned above that could be used only for the repairs of the Temple, these two kinds of offerings are associated with negative feelings of guilt and uncleanness and are to belong to the priests.

The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings: The guilt offerings and sin offerings in this passage are not mentioned elsewhere in the books of 1–2 Kings, and the parallel passage in 2 Chr 24 leaves them out. Commentators are divided concerning what is meant by the money from these offerings. According to Jewish tradition, money was given to the priests to purchase the animals needed for these sacrifices and in some cases there was money left over (Slotki). Others take this as a reference to money taken in as fines that accompanied these offerings. Contemporary English Version, for example, translates “The fines that had to be paid along with the sacrifices to make things right and the sacrifices for sin.” According to Lev 5.16, a fifth of the guilt offering belonged to the priest, and a similar sense may be intended here.

Guilt offerings are discussed in detail in Lev 5.14–6.7. The distinction between guilt offerings and sin offerings is not always clear. A guilt offering may involve financial payment in return for the wrong done. For this reason it is sometimes translated “reparation offering” (Nouvelle Bible Segond, Osty-Trinquet). This kind of offering was frequently made in connection with unintentional wrongdoing.

There is an explanation of sin offerings in Lev 4. The rendering “sin offering” is a traditional translation, but more recent scholarship understands this offering to be more accurately described as a “purification offering” (so Revised English Bible). The German translation by Buber and Rosenzweig calls this a “de-sin offering”; that is, this offering was made in order to remove the impurity caused by sin.

The passive verb was … brought (Good News Translation “was not deposited”) can be made active by beginning this verse with “The people in charge of the Temple repairs did not receive the money…” or “They [indefinite] did not put the money … in the box.”

Instead of saying it belonged to the priests, some may prefer to say “the priests had a right to keep this money.” Compare Lev 7.7.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .