As in previous passages where a new king is introduced, the seventeenth year refers to the reign of Pekah and not to his age.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah, see 2 Kgs 15.25. It will be important in most languages to state clearly, as Good News Translation has done, that Pekah was the ruler of Israel. The writer assumed that his original readers or hearers would know this, but now most readers or hearers will not be nearly so familiar with the names and history of these two kingdoms.

The reference to Ahaz the son of Jotham restates the information introduced in the last verse of the previous chapter, which describes Jotham’s death and the succession of his son Ahaz. Further details about Ahaz are given in the following verses.

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 .