The transition word rendered So is the common Hebrew conjunction and may be left untranslated in this context, as in Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New International Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. Or it may be taken as a temporal transition marker (New Jerusalem Bible “Then”). But the use of a logical connector, following Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version, is not advised in this context.

Slept with his fathers: See the comments on 1 Kgs 1.21 and 2.10.

Jeroboam, whose reign is treated in 2 Kgs 14.23-29, is the second ruler of the northern kingdom with that name. The earlier Jeroboam (1 Kgs 12.1–14.20) was the first ruler of Israel after the kingdom was divided following the death of Solomon in the year 930 or 931 B.C. The ruler referred to in this verse governed Israel nearly a hundred and thirty years later. Good News Translation (also New Living Translation) uses the convention of adding the Roman numeral II to distinguish this Jeroboam from his earlier namesake. But in some languages this will be meaningless. Perhaps the only way to convey this information will be to add an explanatory footnote. See Appendix B, “Who’s Who among the Kings.” Since Jeroboam is being introduced here for the first time, it may be helpful to identify him as the son of Jehoash (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation).

Sat upon his throne: To “sit on the throne” is another way of saying to “rule” or “reign” (see Exo 11.5). To sit on the throne of another person means to take his place as ruler. This is how it is used in 1 Kgs 1.13 regarding Solomon’s replacing David as king. Here it may be rendered “took his place on the throne” (New Century Version), “replaced him as ruler,” or “began to reign in his place.”

Buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel: For an explanation of the Good News Translation rendering “buried in the royal tombs,” see the comments on 1 Kgs 14.31. Since Jehoash was also a king of Israel, it will be more reasonable in many languages to say “buried in Samaria with the other kings of Israel” or “… with his predecessors.”

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 .