The transition word Then reflects the Hebrew adverb expressing either a temporal relationship (the next step in a sequence of events) or a logical one (the result of something previously stated). Although Good News Translation leaves it untranslated, most modern versions take it as a temporal transition as in Revised Standard Version.

Rezin king of Syria: See the comments on 2 Kgs 15.37. As noted there, some translations spell the name Rezin as “Razon.” Whichever spelling of the name was used in 15.37 should be used here also. Translators should remember that in some languages it may be more natural to place the title before the proper name rather than after it: “King Rezin of Syria” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Good News Translation omits the phrase the son of Remaliah since it occurred earlier in verse 1. This may be a helpful model for other languages.

Came up to wage war: In some languages this expression will be more naturally rendered by a single verb or expression with military connotations, such as “attacked” (Good News Translation) or “launched their campaign” (New Jerusalem Bible). The writer does not give the reason why Syria and Israel went to war against Judah, but these two kings were probably trying to overthrow Ahaz in order to get Judah on their side against Assyria.

Jerusalem refers to the people living in Jerusalem at that time. Jerusalem was, of course, the capital of the southern kingdom and the principal residence of King Ahaz.

They besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him: Here the name of the king of Judah is used to represent the entire population of the city of Jerusalem. Likewise, the pronoun him represents Ahaz and all his supporters. If this is unnatural in the receptor language, proper adjustments should be made in translation. Some may say “Ahaz and his people” or something similar. The Syriac version has the pronoun “it” (referring to Jerusalem) instead of the name Ahaz, and the parallel passage in Isa 7.1 likewise refers to the city rather than to the king. This is the basis for the New Jerusalem Bible rendering “They besieged it but could not reduce it.”

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 .