Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father: The identification of Shallum (Joahaz) is expressed much more clearly by Good News Translation than by Revised Standard Version. For one thing, “Josiah” is not repeated. Nevertheless, many translations leave Shallum in the text and refer to the name Joahaz in a footnote (New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). We recommend this solution.

Who went away from this place: See above; he was taken away into Egypt. Most versions retain went away; but because he did not go voluntarily, it is more accurate to say “is no longer here” (Bible en français courant) or “was led [or, taken] away from here.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .