And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem: The pronoun they refers to the messengers of King Sennacherib, which is made clear in New Century Version (“the king’s officers”) and New Living Translation (“The Assyrian officials”). Shouted … with a loud voice is a redundant expression, so Good News Translation says simply “shouted.” The language of Judah is “Hebrew” (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, Moffatt, Bible en français courant). An American Translation says “the Jewish language.” The international language used for politics at that time was Aramaic. This verse assumes readers have knowledge of the story in 2 Kgs 18.26-28. So a footnote referring the modern reader to that passage will be essential; for example, one possibility is “Instead of speaking to them in the international language of Aramaic at that time, they spoke to them in their own ethnic language of Hebrew. See the parallel account in 2 Kgs 18.26-28.”

Who were upon the wall: The writer paints a picture of observers watching from a position on the city wall of Jerusalem as the official representatives of King Hezekiah received the message from Sennacherib’s officials. It was not uncommon for people to stand or sit on the wall around the city to witness important events taking place on the ground below (compare 2 Kgs 6.26-30). The height and thickness of city walls varied, depending on how much protection the citizens of a city thought that they needed. An early seventh-century B.C. wall in Jerusalem was 7 meters (23 feet) thick.

To frighten and terrify them: The Assyrian messengers shouted in Hebrew in order to spread fear throughout the civilian population. As is often the case when synonyms are used, the use of the two verbs frighten and terrify is intended to intensify the meaning. Some may prefer to say “spread panic.”

In order that they might take the city: The pronoun they refers to the Assyrian messengers, who were supported by their entire army.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And he did not humble himself before the LORD: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered And is better translated “But” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, La Bible Pléiade, La Bible des Communautés Chrétiennes) since there is a contrast here, comparing Amon unfavorably to his father who, in spite of his wrongdoing, repented. For humble himself, see the comments on 2 Chr 7.14.

As Manasseh his father had humbled himself: See verse 12.

But this Amon incurred guilt more and more: This Amon is literally “he Amon.” The pronoun “he” is emphatic. Revised Standard Version attempts to express this emphasis by saying this Amon. Incurred guilt more and more is literally “increased guilt.” The sense is clearly expressed in renderings such as “his guilt was much greater” (Revised English Bible) and “he was even more sinful than his father had been” (Good News Translation). Amon’s greater guilt came from his failure to worship God alone as his father had done.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And Josiah took away all the abominations …: Josiah was last mentioned by name in the Hebrew text in verse 1. Good News Translation adds “King” before his name here for clarity. The fourfold repetition of the word all in this verse is probably intended to underline the thoroughness with which Josiah undertook his reform program. The abominations refers to “the disgusting idols” (Good News Translation) of the pagan nations that were in the land before the arrival of the people of Israel. For the Hebrew word translated abominations, see the comments on 2 Chr 28.3, where it is rendered “abominable practices.”

The territory that belonged to the people of Israel probably refers to the whole land of Israel and not just to the northern kingdom here.

New Living Translation provides a helpful model for the first sentence of this verse, saying “So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the LORD their God.”

All his days may be rendered “as long as he lived” (Good News Translation) or “during all his reign” (Moffatt).

They did not turn away from following the LORD the God of their fathers: New Century Version uses a positive expression here, saying “the people obeyed the LORD, the God of their ancestors.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon: The Masoretic Text does not have a word corresponding to the word also in Revised Standard Version, but many versions add also since this verse tells additional things that Nebuchadnezzar did. He also took some of the Temple equipment (see 1 Chr 28.14-18 and 2 Chr 4.19-22). The Hebrew word for vessels is a general term that may be translated “equipment,” “utensils” (God’s Word), or “articles” (New International Version) in this context. Here it refers to items or objects for use in the Temple (see the comments on 1 Chr 28.13).

And put them in his palace in Babylon: Palace translates a Hebrew noun that often refers specifically to the central room of the Temple (see the comments on 2 Chr 4.7, 22). As in some other Old Testament passages, the Hebrew noun seems to refer to the palace of a king here. Since it sometimes refers to the Temple or its central room in Jerusalem, some translators think it refers here also to a temple rather than a palace; for example, New International Version and An American Translation render his palace as “his temple,” and the alternative translation of Bible en français courant has “the temple of his gods.”

Babylon refers to the city in this verse, so Good News Translation says “Babylon.” The repetition of this proper name in Revised Standard Version, as in Hebrew, may be avoided if it is unnatural in the receptor language. Good News Translation provides a possible model for doing this.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Joktan was the father of …: Father may mean “ancestor” (Contemporary English Version) in this context. It is for this reason that Good News Translation says “The descendants of Joktan were…” rather than “The sons/children of Joktan were….” As in previous verses, it may be wise to follow the example of Good News Translation, indicating that the names of these descendants are not to be taken as individuals, but that they represent whole people groups, thirteen in all. The exact location of most of these peoples is unknown (see the comments on the previous verse).

The descendants of Hazarmaveth lived in the Wadi Hadhramaut in southern Arabia. This kingdom was located on the southern coast east of modern Yemen. Nearly all translations follow the Masoretic Text in reading “Hazarmaveth.” However, the New English Bible (New English Bible) and Revised English Bible read “Hazarmoth,” apparently on the basis of the Septuagint.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

David the seventh: David is number thirty-three in the line of descendants that began with Adam in 1 Chr 1.1. According to 1 Sam 16.10-11 and 17.12, Jesse had eight sons, and David was the eighth. It is not clear why David is listed as the seventh here, although the number “seven” may have had symbolic meaning, since this number often signifies completion in the Bible. The number of generations from Ram to Jesse is also seven, which may be a similar literary technique.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

This verse continues to list the descendants of Shobal.

And the families of Kiriath-jearim: The Hebrew word translated families has a broader sense in this context. Although New Revised Standard Version retains the word “families,” most modern English versions have either “clans” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “family groups” (New Century Version). For this whole phrase Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “and four groups of families of Kiriath-Jearim.”

The Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishra-ites: These four clans lived in Kiriath Jearim. From the Ithrites came two of the mighty men in David’s army (see 1 Chr 11.40; 2 Sam 23.38). Nothing further is known concerning the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishra-ites.

From these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites: The Zorathites and the Eshtaolites refer to inhabitants of the two cities called Zorah and Eshtaol (see Josh 19.41), which were located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Jerusalem and 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Kiriath Jearim. Good News Translation makes it explicit that these are cities rather than some other geographical entity. Since this clause is an explanation for the origin of the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites, Good News Translation makes it a parenthetical statement.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .