As noted at the beginning of this chapter, some translations make a separate section of verses 17-21. Osty-Trinquet, for example, calls this section “Aramaean invasion and assassination of the king” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). According to 2 Chr 24.17-24, this invasion by King Hazael is God’s punishment of King Joash. But the accounts of Joash’s reign in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles are different in numerous ways, and translators should not supply a reason here in 2 Kings for this invasion.
At that time translates a Hebrew adverb that is not precise in its time reference to the preceding verses. Here it refers to the same general time period that funds were being raised and repairs were being made to the Temple.
Hazael king of Syria (“Aram” in Hebrew) is frequently mentioned in 2 Kgs 8 and also in 1 Kgs 19.15, 17; 2 Kgs 9.14-15 and 10.32. See the comments there.
Went up and fought: It will not be natural in certain languages to translate the two verbs here literally. The notion of movement upward is not essential to the meaning of the text. In fact, the two verbs may be translated by a single verb in some languages. New American Bible, for example, has “mounted a siege.” Others may say simply “attacked” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
Gath: A Philistine city by this name is mentioned frequently in 1-2 Samuel and also in 1 Kgs 2.39-41 (see the comments there). But there is serious question as to whether or not the same place is meant in this case. This Gath may not be the Philistine city, but rather the same city as Gittaim (2 Sam 4.3; Neh 11.33). In any case, it will be important in certain languages to add a classifier term such as “city” or “town” for those readers who would otherwise have no idea what the name refers to.
Set his face: This idiomatic expression usually refers to someone who is determined or resolute in pursuing a certain goal. Such a person stubbornly insists on doing something, often in spite of the probability that the endeavor might not be successful. The idiom is fairly frequent in the Old Testament (for example, Gen 31.21; Lev 20.5; Num 24.1; Dan 11.17). The same sort of expression also occurs in the New Testament at Luke 9.51. Some other ways of expressing this idea in English are “decided” (Good News Translation, New American Bible) and “proceeded” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
To go up against Jerusalem: Once again, the verb go up does not need to be translated literally since the movement upward is not pertinent to the story and may be unnatural in some languages. Good News Translation says “to attack Jerusalem.”
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 .