Solomon’s message to King Hiram of Tyre begins here and continues through verse 10. Contemporary English Version indents the entire message to help readers easily see the extent of the quotation. Likewise, Contemporary English Version indents all of Hiram’s reply in verses 11-16. Translators may wish to consider using this format in their own language.

And Solomon sent word to Huram the king of Tyre: Instead of sent word, the Hebrew has only the verb “sent” with no direct object, but this verb introduces the rather long quotation. It will be better rendered in some languages as “sent messengers” (La Bible du Semeur), “sent this message” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Moffatt), or “sent … the following message” (Bible en français courant).

For Huram the king of Tyre, see the comments on 1 Chr 14.1. Huram is the spelling in most Hebrew manuscripts. Some translations (Good News Translation, New International Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), in agreement with the Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate, spell this name “Hiram,” because it is written that way in other passages where this king of Tyre is mentioned (see 2 Sam 5.11; 1 Kgs 5.1; 1 Chr 14.1). The spelling “Hiram” also serves to distinguish this king from the artisan who was important in the actual building of the Temple and whose name is also written “Huram” or sometimes “Huramabi” (2 Chr 2.13; 4.16). The Phoenician form of his name was Ahiram.

As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me: See 1 Chr 14.1. The Hebrew verb translated dealt with and deal with is the common verb meaning “to do” or “to make,” so a more literal translation would read “As you did to/for David … do to/for me.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “Do as you did for my father David….” But this very general meaning is clarified when Solomon adds sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in. Others have translated this verb as “Do business with” (Good News Translation) and “collaborate with” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Sent is a literal translation of the Hebrew. According to 1 Kgs 5, David paid Hiram for the cedar wood. This is apparently the reason for the Good News Translation rendering “sold.” For cedar see the comments on 1 Chr 14.1. Good News Translation says “cedar logs” for clarity (so also NET Bible). Since David was a king, many versions render house as “palace” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt) or “royal residence” (Revised English Bible).

The clause so deal with me is not actually in the Hebrew text, but it is implied in the structure that begins with As you dealt with David my father…. Revised Standard Version and most other versions have added this clause as the sense requires. Nouvelle version Segond révisée places the implied clause in parentheses at the beginning of the sentence instead of coming after the comparison with David, and this may be the more logical position to place this implied information in certain other languages. Rather than adding words as Revised Standard Version has done, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh simply uses a long dash at the end of the verse to show that the thought has not been completed. For the same reason Osty-Trinquet ends the verse with three dots.

If it seems more natural to restructure this whole sentence, Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie provide a possible model, saying “You furnished cedar logs to my father David so that he could build his palace. Do the same for me.” New Century Version has “Help me as you helped my father David. You sent him cedar logs so he could build himself a palace to live in.”

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 .

Then he made the molten sea: Then translates the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it introduces the next thing that was made, so the connector Then (also La Bible de Jérusalem: Nouvelle édition revue et corrigée) is appropriate. Others translate the conjunction as “also” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

The pronoun he refers to Solomon. However, in the parallel passage of 1 Kgs 7.23 the implied subject of the verb made is Huram, the skilled craftsman who was introduced in 2 Chr 2.13-14. Here many versions follow the Hebrew in saying “he made,” without stating the agent’s name. International Children’s Bible gives his name as “Solomon.” But Parole de Vie and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente say “Huram made,” which is not recommended. Contemporary English Version provides a possible model with “He [Solomon] also gave orders to make.”

The molten sea or “the Sea of cast metal” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) is a literal rendering of the Hebrew. Of course, it was not the water in the tank that was made from cast metal but the round tank that held the water. The word molten refers to the bronze-casting technique used to make the tank (see the comments on 1 Chr 18.8). For this reason it may be better to say “a bronze tank” or “a tank of bronze” as in a number of common language versions (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). Other possible translations include “a large metal bowl called the Sea” (Contemporary English Version) and “a large bronze basin for water” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “a huge round bronze basin, [called] the ‘Sea.’ ” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente is similar with “a large basin of bronze … It was called the ‘Sea.’ ”

It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference: The size of this tank is given in cubits. As in the above verses, the American edition of Good News Translation consistently expresses the measurements in feet, saying “7½ feet deep, 15 feet in diameter, and 45 feet in circumference.” In meters this is expressed by the British edition of CEV as “It was 4.5 meters across, just over two meters deep, and 13.5 meters around” (similarly Nueva Versión Internacional). The British edition of GNT attempts to be more precise with “2.2 metres deep, 4.4 metres in diameter, and 13.2 metres in circumference.” Such precision may give the false impression that scholars know exactly what is intended. So more approximate measurements may be preferable.

In the expression from brim to brim, the Hebrew word translated brim is more often rendered “lip” or “edge.” In some languages it will be more natural to say “from one side to the other” or “from edge to edge.” Others may say simply “it was 15 feet across from edge to edge” (New Century Version). Good News Translation and New American Bible use idiomatic English with “in diameter.”

A line of thirty cubits measured its circumference will have to be restructured in many languages because it will be unnatural to speak of a line (string) measuring something. According to this clause, if a person took a string and wrapped it around the outside of the tank, that string would be thirty cubits long. New Revised Standard Version says “A line of thirty cubits would encircle it completely,” while Revised English Bible has “it took a line thirty cubits long to go round it.” In other languages it may be necessary to say “If a person wanted to measure around it, he would need a string 13.5 meters [or, 45 feet] long.”

As verse 6 states, the water in this tank was used by the priests for their ritual, or ceremonial, washing. The tank itself was 2.25 meters (7.5 feet) high, and it sat on top of bronze bulls, so the tank would have been too tall for the priests to reach over and wash in it. Probably there were faucets or spigots that drained the water from the tank into a reservoir around the tank. For a good description and illustration of this huge bronze tank, see WTH, pages 243-244|fig:WTH.4.3.2.Temple – Sea, tank.243-244.html.

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 .

Verses 5-6 consist of a quotation within a quotation. Solomon speaks in verses 4-11; and within these verses he quotes the words of God in verses 5-6 and 8-9. Contemporary English Version transforms verses 5-6 into indirect discourse, but by doing this it drops certain elements.

Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt …: The word day is clearly not to be taken in its literal sense of twenty-four hours here. Bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt took far more time than a single day. The reference is to a longer period of time, so in some languages a better translation of this whole clause may be “Long ago I brought my people out of the land of Egypt and since that time [or, then]….”

In all the tribes of Israel: Good News Translation says simply “in the land of Israel,” but this rendering fails to maintain the reference to the tribes within the people of Israel. Moffatt is better with “out of any clan of Israel.”

House refers to a “temple” (Good News Translation). But in some languages it may be more appropriate to use a general term for a “building” in this context.

That my name might be there is literally “to be my name there.” This clause expresses the purpose of the words to build a house. The words my name might be there indicate that this is where people should come to worship God (see the comments on 1 Chr 22.7-8). This clause may be translated “where people can worship me.” In the Old Testament a name is more than a label by which a person or place is identified. Most names had a meaning and represented the person. In this case there is an indirect reference to God’s mysterious name Yahweh. For this reason some translations capitalize the word “name” (so New International Version, Bible de Jérusalem, La Bible des Communautés Chrétiennes, Osty-Trinquet). Some other ways of translating a house, that my name might be there are “a Temple where I might be present” (La Bible du Semeur), “a temple for my presence” (Moffatt), and “a temple … to honor my name” (New Living Translation).

And I chose no man as prince over my people Israel: For prince see the comments on 1 Chr 5.2. As prince over may be rendered “to lead” (Good News Translation) or “to rule” (Moffatt).

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 .

If they repent with all their mind and with all their heart: For repent see the comments on the previous verse. With all their mind and with all their heart is literally “with all their heart and with all their soul” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible; see the comments on 1 Chr 28.9). This expression is a common Old Testament way of saying “earnestly,” “sincerely,” or “completely.” It occurs often in the book of Deuteronomy (4.29; 6.5; 10.12; 11.13; 13.3; 26.16; 30.2, 6, 10). The heart refers to the intellect or will, while the “soul” stands for the emotions or feelings. Here this phrase emphasizes the sincerity and genuineness of the repentance. Good News Translation uses the adverbs “truly” and “sincerely” to convey the meaning, while New Century Version has “truly.”

In the land of their captivity, to which they were carried captive: See the comments on the previous two verses. This expression is repetitious. As in the previous verse, Good News Translation says simply “that land.” If the fuller expression is retained and the passive construction is a problem, then translators may say “in the land where their enemies forced them to live.”

And pray toward their land, which thou gavest to their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: In exile in a foreign land, the people of Israel are exhorted to pray in the direction of the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Temple (see the comments on verse 21). For their land, which thou gavest to their fathers, see verse 25; for the city which thou hast chosen, see verse 34; and for the house which I have built for thy name, see verses 7 and 34.

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 all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon: Sought the presence of is literally “sought the face of.” This expression may be rendered “consulted” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) or “came to see” (International Children’s Bible).

To hear his wisdom: In some languages it may be necessary to select a different verb since hear does not go with wisdom. If so, it may be better to say “to learn his wisdom” or “to discover his wisdom.”

Which God had put into his mind: Mind is literally “heart,” which was considered the location of wisdom in Hebrew thought (see the comments on 1 Chr 17.2).

Some languages may prefer the restructuring of this verse found in Bible en français courant, which says:

• In effect, God had accorded him such wisdom that the kings came from everywhere to consult him.

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 Hebrew of this verse begins with the common conjunction, which is omitted by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation as well as most other versions.

He made the fortresses strong: Do the fortresses refer to something different from the fortified cities mentioned in the previous verse and the cities for defense in verse 5? According to Good News Translation, they refer to the same places. But according to An American Translation, they refer to additional places: “He also strengthened the fortresses.” Either interpretation is possible, but the majority of versions seem to take the word fortresses as synonymous with the previous expressions. The fortresses existed to keep out foreign armies, not to keep in the citizens of the southern kingdom.

And put commanders in them: This clause may mean Rehoboam appointed several commanders for each fortified city, or it may mean he appointed one commander for each of the cities (so Good News Translation). The second sense is more likely.

And stores of food, oil, and wine: The Hebrew noun translated stores is sometimes rendered “treasures,” but in this context it clearly refers to supplies. See the comments on this Hebrew noun at 1 Chr 9.26. The Hebrew word for oil does not refer to petroleum oil but rather to “olive oil” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Living Translation). See the comments on 1 Chr 9.29 and 2 Chr 2.10. For wine see 1 Chr 27.27.

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 certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him: And renders the common Hebrew conjunction. Good News Translation uses the adverb “Later” in order to show the passage of a certain amount of time between the events described in verse 6 and those in verse 7. Given the context, this is a legitimate rendering of the Hebrew conjunction. Contemporary English Version makes it more immediate by translating “Then right after Rehoboam became king.”

Worthless scoundrels is literally “empty men, sons/children of Belial.” The expression “sons/children of Belial” is fairly common in the Old Testament (compare Deut 13.13; Jdg 19.22; 20.13; 1 Kgs 21.10, 13) and refers to people who are considered troublemakers. The words “son/sons of” plus a noun often function in Hebrew as an adjective stating the nature or character of the person being described. The exact meaning of the Hebrew word transliterated “Belial” is not clear, though it is obviously a term of contempt. Perhaps it is formed from two words meaning “without” and “worth.” In the Old Testament this word is used in contexts that suggest the idea of “evil,” and by the time of the New Testament it had become the name of the prince of evil (2 Cor 6.15). King James Version translates this whole phrase literally, saying “vain men, the children of Beʾli-al,” but such a rendering has zero meaning. There may be a wide variety of ways in the receptor language for speaking of such men. In addition to the Revised Standard Version/Good News Translation rendering, some other idiomatic translations are “Riffraff and scoundrels” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “people without scruples, good-for-nothings” (La Bible du Semeur), “Worthless, good-for-nothing men” (God’s Word), and “worthless, evil men” (New Century Version).

And defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon: The Hebrew verb translated defied plus the following Hebrew preposition is literally “strengthened themselves against” (King James Version). But the meaning is that they “stubbornly opposed” (Revised English Bible) the young king and imposed their own will on him.

When Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them: When renders the common Hebrew conjunction, but in this context it functions as a logical connector. It was “because” Rehoboam was young and indecisive that these men took advantage of him. According to 2 Chr 12.13, Rehoboam was forty-one years old. The Hebrew word translated irresolute is literally “tender of heart” (see the comments on 1 Chr 22.5). King James Version says “tender-hearted,” but since the word “tender-hearted” means “quick to feel pity or sympathy” in modern English, this is not an accurate translation. The Hebrew expression here is better rendered “timid” (NASB), “indecisive” (New International Version), or “inexperienced” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, God’s Word, Revised English Bible). New Century Version says “didn’t know what to do.”

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 .