Seized is literally “took” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible), so the Revised Standard Version rendering seems to be stronger than the Hebrew here. But the context allows for such a rendering.

Gold and silver: See the comments at 1 Kgs 6.20; 10.21 and 2 Kgs 5.5. Good News Translation has changed the order of this phrase to “silver and gold,” which is the more natural order in English of referring to these two metals.

Vessels: The general term used here in Hebrew may be translated “equipment” (Good News Translation), “utensils” (New American Bible, New Century Version) or “articles” (New International Version) in this context. See the comments at 1 Kgs 7.51 and 2 Kgs 4.3.

The passive construction, that were found, serves no particular purpose in this sentence and may be translated actively. The meaning is simply “that he found” or, perhaps better, “that his soldiers found.”

Plundering the wealth of an enemy’s temple and palace is quite common in 2 Kings and in warfare in general. But taking hostages is less common. Hostages is literally “sons of the guarantees,” which is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament except in the parallel account in 2 Chr 25.24. The Hebrew noun for “guarantees” comes from a root verb that means “to take as a pledge” or “to give in exchange.” In some languages the idea of hostages may be very difficult to express. Some may have to say “persons kept while waiting for an agreement to be fulfilled” or simply “people that he had captured.” The latter would not be very different from “prisoners,” but if the hostage concept is to be retained, the idea is probably that these were children of noble families who would be held as a guarantee of commitment and obedience on the part of the conquered masses and their local rulers.

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 .