In his days; that is, during the reign of Jehoiakim over Judah. New Century Version, like Good News Translation, translates “While Jehoiakim was king” (similarly Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Compare 2 Kgs 23.29, where the same expression is used. According to Jer 25.1-38, it was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign that Jeremiah received the message from the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar would attack Judah and Jerusalem; according to Dan 1.1-2, Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign.

Nebuchadnezzar ruled for forty-three years (605–562 B.C.). His name is spelled with the letter “r” (Nebuchadrezzar) instead of the letter “n” (Nebuchadnezzar) in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In the books of 2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, and a few times in Jeremiah, his name is spelled with an “n” as here in this verse. Some translations, such as Revised Standard Version, keep the two different spellings in English, but translators are urged to choose one spelling and use it throughout the Old Testament.

This ruler’s name is spelled “Nabu-kudurri-usur” in Akkadian (the Babylonian language was a dialect of Akkadian). The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate refer to him as “Nabouchodonosor,” and this spelling is the basis for the spelling of his name in most Spanish versions and in several French versions (Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible du Semeur, La Bible Pléiade).

King of Babylon: This expression refers not just to kingship over the city of Babylon, but the entire territory of Babylonia. See the comments at 2 Kgs 20.12.

Came up: As in 2 Kgs 23.29, an ordinary verb is used here to describe a definite military maneuver. Many languages may prefer a more precise expression, such as “attacked” (La Bible du Semeur), “moved against” (New American Bible), “undertook a military expedition” (Peregrino, em>Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or “invaded” (New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Knox). Hebrew leaves implicit the object of the attack. But this may be made explicit as against “Judah” (Good News Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Bible en français courant) or against “Jehoiakim” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). This attack occurred in the years 604–603 B.C.

Jehoiakim became his servant three years: In many languages the verb “become” does not fit naturally with an expression that speaks of a longer period of time like three years. The meaning of the text is that Jehoiakim became subservient to Nebuchadnezzar and that he remained in that position for a period of three years. The translation should not, however, convey the notion that Jehoiakim was the domestic servant of the king of Babylonia. Rather, Jehoiakim and all the people of Judah were subordinate to Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of Babylonia.

Then he turned and rebelled: The presence of the verb turned has been interpreted by some scholars as meaning that this was a second revolt; for example, New Jerusalem Bible says “but then [he] rebelled against him a second time,” and La Bible du Semeur has “then he revolted against him again.” But it is more likely that it signified a change from his previous attitude of submissiveness. It is probably better, therefore, to translate simply “but finally he rebelled” or “then he did an about face and revolted against him” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible; similarly Osty-Trinquet).

The writer does not indicate the reason for Jehoiakim’s revolt, but historical sources indicate that in 601/600 B.C., the Egyptian army drove the Babylonian troops back to the east. With this temporary defeat of the Babylonian army, Jehoiakim saw this as a good time to rebel against Babylonian domination.

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 .