The common Hebrew conjunction rendered Yet may signal contrast between the misconduct of the people of Judah and the gracious action of the LORD in spite of this (so Revised Standard Version). On the other hand, some versions take it as looking forward and showing contrast between God’s action and the inaction of the Judeans to whom he sent prophets (so New Century Version with “Even though” and New International Version with “Although”).

He sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD is a literal rendering of the Hebrew. But such a translation may suggest incorrectly that the pronoun he refers to someone other than the LORD. Good News Translation restates this sentence by saying that “the LORD sent prophets to warn them to return to him” (similarly New International Version, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje), and Revised English Bible has “The LORD sent prophets to bring them back to himself.”

These testified against them: The demonstrative pronoun these refers to the prophets. Testified against them means “denounced them” (Revised English Bible) or “put the case against them” (New Jerusalem Bible) by telling about the people’s sins.

But they would not give heed means the people of Judah would not listen.

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 .

From the time when he turned away from the LORD: See verses 14 and 20. The Hebrew literally says “From the time when Amazyahu turned away from the LORD,” but both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have replaced the name “Amazyahu” with the pronoun he for reasons of English style.

They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem is literally “they conspired a conspiracy….” The Hebrew word translated conspiracy is the same one rendered “treason” in 2 Chr 23.13 (see the comments there). The subject of the Hebrew verb here is indefinite. In languages that use passive forms, the meaning of this clause may be expressed as “a conspiracy was formed against him” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Where the passive is not possible, the following model of Contemporary English Version might be helpful: “some people in Jerusalem plotted against Amaziah.”

And he fled to Lachish: Lachish was an important city, strategically located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) southwest of Jerusalem (see the comments on 2 Chr 11.9). It would have been a possible place of refuge for the king in the face of an uprising against him in his capital city. It will be important in most languages to add a classifier word like “city.”

But they sent after him to Lachish: The pronoun they refers to the same indefinite enemies as in the beginning of the verse. Revised English Bible has “the conspirators” as the subject of this clause. For they sent after him, Good News Translation has “his enemies followed him,” and New American Bible says “they pursued him.” Other possible renderings are “he was pursued” and “he was followed” if the passive form is a realistic option. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “they sent men after him,” indicating that the leaders of the coup did not make the journey themselves, but rather sent their subordinates. To Lachish may be rendered “there” (Good News Translation) since this city has just been mentioned.

And slew him there: The archaic verb slew is replaced by “killed” in New Revised Standard Version.

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 .

The account of Jotham’s reign is concluded by the common formula used to summarize the reign of most of the kings of Israel and Judah. It refers to his death, burial, and successor.

For slept with his fathers, see the comments on 2 Chr 9.31.

For the city of David: see the comments on 1 Chr 11.5 and 2 Chr 5.2.

For reigned in his stead, see the comments on 1 Chr 19.1 and 2 Chr 9.31.

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 .

They set to work and removed … is literally “And they arose and they removed…” (NASB). The subject of these verbs is the many people mentioned in the previous verse. The verb “arose,” when used with another verb, often signifies undertaking a significant task. Revised English Bible expresses its sense well by beginning this verse with “They began by removing….”

The altars that were in Jerusalem were the altars that had been built for worship of foreign gods (see 2 Chr 28.24). These altars were not the same as all the altars for burning incense. The first Hebrew noun translated altars comes from a root meaning “to sacrifice” and refers to altars that were used for offering sacrifices. The Hebrew word rendered altars for burning incense comes from the same root as the word for “incense.” These other altars were used for burning incense. Good News Translation keeps the distinction between the two types of altar by saying “the altars that had been used in Jerusalem for offering sacrifices and burning incense.”

For Kidron valley, see the comments on 2 Chr 15.16.

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 for the sons of Aaron, the priests: The sons of Aaron is a common expression to refer to the priests, but here both are used. In this context it will be better to translate the sons of Aaron as “the descendants of Aaron” (New International Version; similarly Good News Translation)

Who were in the fields of common land belonging to their cities: The fields of common land refers to the farmland belonging to the Levitical cities. Some of the priests lived inside the city walls and others lived outside in the countryside that was attached to those cities.

There were men in the several cities who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to every one among the Levites who was enrolled: The passive verb were designated may be made active by specifying Hezekiah as the agent. It was he who actually appointed those who would take food and supplies to the priests and Levites.

The meaning of this verse is not clear. According to the interpretation followed by Good News Translation, the priests and Levites received their portions regardless of where they lived, whether they lived in one of the Levitical cities or whether they lived in the pastureland attached to one of these cities. If this interpretation is followed, this verse may be broken into three separate sentences as follows:

• Some of Aaron’s descendants, the priests, lived on the farmlands near the towns assigned to them and others lived in the towns. Hezekiah named some men living in these cities to take food and supplies to them. All the males and those named in the family histories of the Levites received part of the collection.

According to another interpretation, followed by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, this verse states that the priests received their portions regardless of whether they were on duty at the Temple or off duty in their homes, unlike the Levites who received their portion only during the times that they were on duty at the Temple. The interpretation followed by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible for verses 16-19 seems to make the best sense. This interpretation is recommended, and the translation is quoted here:

• 16 moreover, the men already enrolled, from the age of three and up, all those who came to the House of the LORD received each day something for their function in their groups according to their classes. 17 The enrollment of priests was done according to their paternal houses, and that of the Levites, from the age of twenty and up, by groups and by classes. 18 The enrollment was valid for all the family: wives, sons and daughters; it was valid for all the assembly, on the condition that they be faithful and in a state of holiness, 19 and for the priests, the sons of Aaron, living in the country in the territory of each of their villages. Some people designated by name distributed portions to all the men among the priests and to all those enrolled among the Levites.

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 follows the common formula that is used to summarize the reign of a ruler of Israel or Judah by stating Manasseh’s age when he took over (twelve years old), the length of his reign (fifty-five years), and his capital (Jerusalem). However, it does not mention his mother’s name. See the comments on 2 Chr 12.13.

Since this is the beginning of a new section, Good News Translation translates he began to reign as “he became king of Judah.”

He reigned fifty-five years: When the dates for the kings who ruled before and after Manasseh are calculated, it is difficult to explain the number fifty-five. The number “forty-five” seems to fit better. One way to solve the chronological problem is to assume that the first ten years of the young King Manasseh’s rule overlapped with the reign of his father Hezekiah. If this is done, then Manasseh ruled 697–642 B.C. Some scholars suggest that he had a shorter reign of 687–642 B.C. However, all interpreters are agreed that the text says fifty-five years, and this is what must be translated in the receptor language.

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 .

Were over the burden bearers and directed all who did work in every kind of service: The punctuation in the Masoretic Text indicates that verse 12 is a complete verse. But then it is not clear how verse 13 is related to the previous verse. The following interpretations have been suggested:

(1) Most interpreters understand the subject of the first half of verse 13 to be “The Levites” mentioned at the end of verse 12 (so Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).
(2) Others, taking the words at the end of verse 12 to be parenthetical, begin a new sentence with verse 13 and add the words “Other Levites” (so Good News Translation). The sense is then that the four men named in verse 12 were entrusted with overall supervision. Under their supervision were other Levites who were in charge of the workers who carried loads and all the other workers.
(3) Others make the subject of the first half of verse 13 to be “Other Levites, who were all skilled musicians” mentioned at the end of verse 12 (so New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant).
(4) Others understand the four Levites in verse 12 to be the skillful musicians also. These same four Levites then continue as the subject of the first half of verse 13 (so New Century Version, Nouvelle Bible Segond).
(5) Since it seems strange that master musicians would have roles in supervising the workers, some translators move the clause at the end of verse 12 to the middle of verse 13 (so New English Bible/Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy); for example, Revised English Bible renders these two verses as follows:

12-13 The men did their work faithfully under the supervision of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the line of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, members of the family of Kohath. These also had control of the bearers and directed the workmen of every trade. The Levites were all skilled musicians, and some of them were secretaries, clerks, or door-keepers.

According to this interpretation, the four Levites mentioned in verse 12 are also the ones who had control over the workers who carried loads and all the other workers.

For burden bearers, see the comments on 2 Chr 2.2. New Century Version says “workers who carried loads,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “porters.” All who did work in every kind of service refers to all the other workers involved in repairing the Temple. New Century Version says simply “all the other workers.”

And some of the Levites were scribes, and officials, and gatekeepers: Regarding the translation of scribes, see the comments on 1 Chr 2.55. To say that some of the Levites were scribes is probably a statement about their assignment with regard to the repair of the Temple; that is, they kept records pertaining to this job. Officials translates a Hebrew noun whose precise meaning is not clear (see the comments on 1 Chr 23.4, where it is rendered “officers”). It is used of officials whose precise duties are not always stated. It sometimes refers to officials in judicial proceedings (see 1 Chr 23.4; 26.29). Since the noun may originally have meant “scribe” or “record keeper,” Good News Translation groups scribes and officials together as those who “kept records.” An American Translation says they were “notaries.” For gatekeepers see the comments on 1 Chr 9.17.

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 .