The king referred to here is Josiah. Since this is the beginning of a new section and a new chapter, it will probably be a good idea in many languages to make this clear to the reader as Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have done.

The verb sent has no object in the Hebrew text, which is followed literally by Revised Standard Version. Clearly, what is meant is that the king sent “a message” (La Bible Pléiade) or messengers to inform the leaders of Judah about the meeting that he intended to hold. Some may prefer to translate the beginning of this verse as “Then King Josiah summoned all the elders” (similarly Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “… commanded the leaders to come to him.” Contemporary English Version says “King Josiah called together the older leaders.”

The elders refers to “the older leaders” of the southern kingdom. See the comments at 1 Kgs 8.1 and 2 Kgs 6.32.

Judah and Jerusalem: Since Jerusalem was the capital and therefore a part of Judah, it may be more natural in many cases to translate “Jerusalem and the remainder of Judah” or “Judah, including Jerusalem.”

Were gathered: This passive verb may be more naturally translated actively in some languages; for example, translators may say “they assembled” or “they came together.”

New Revised Standard Version provides a somewhat more natural model in English for the whole verse as follows:

• Then the king directed that all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem should be gathered to him.

But in other languages the following may be a better model:

• Then King Josiah commanded all the older leaders of Jerusalem and the rest of Judah to meet with him and so they came together.

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 .