The shrines … of the high places: As in 2 Kgs 17.29 and 32, the word translated shrines is actually the ordinary word for “houses” in Hebrew. But it is quite clear that these were places where the writer considered it illegitimate to worship, either because God was to be worshiped only in Jerusalem or because pagan gods were worshiped at these shrines. So it is legitimate to make this clear in translation.

In the cities of Samaria: Good News Translation translates this “In every city of Israel” and Contemporary English Version has “all over Israel.” This is done for the sake of clarity since the reference is to the former northern kingdom called Israel.

Provoking the LORD to anger: See the comments on 1 Kgs 14.9. Revised Standard Version supplies the words the LORD. The Hebrew text does not have the name Yahweh at this point, only the verb meaning provoking … to anger. But there can be little doubt that Revised Standard Version and most other modern versions are correct in adding the LORD here. This addition was, in fact, thought to be necessary by the Septuagint, which is followed by Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, La Bible Pléiade, and Osty-Trinquet.

According to all that he had done at Bethel: In the same way that Josiah had completely demolished the pagan place of worship in Bethel, he also destroyed the others located throughout the region of Samaria.

The structure of this verse may have to be altered in certain languages, stating in a first sentence that the kings of Israel had previously set up pagan places of worship, which resulted in Yahweh’s anger, and then, in a second sentence, describing the actions of Josiah in destroying these places. Others may prefer the structure of Good News Translation, which shifts the main verb removed to the beginning of the verse.

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 .