The men of Israel fled before Judah: The men of Israel (literally “the sons/children of Israel”) refers to the army of the northern kingdom, and Judah refers to the army of the southern kingdom. An alternative model for this clause is “The army of Israel fled from the army of Judah.”

And God gave them into their hand: In some languages the referents for the pronouns them and their may not be clear, so it will be necessary to use nouns rather than pronouns. The pronoun them refers to the Israelite army, and their refers to the Judean army. As is verse 8, hand is used here as an image for power. For this whole clause Bible en français courant has “and God delivered them into the power of the Judeans,” and Revised English Bible says “God delivered them into their power.” God’s Word keeps the Hebrew imagery in English by saying “and God handed them over to Judah.”

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 sacrificed to the LORD on that day …: Good News Translation shifts the phrase on that day to the beginning of this verse for naturalness in English. Since the events listed in the following verses occurred over a period of days in the third month, it may be better to say “At that time” (New Century Version, NET Bible, New American Bible).

The spoil which they had brought refers to the booty the people of Judah took from the Cushites after they defeated them (see 2 Chr 14.13-15). They sacrificed some of the animals from this booty. For the Hebrew word rendered spoil, see the comments on 1 Chr 20.2 and 26.27. Other renderings of this word include “booty” (New Revised Standard Version) and “loot” (Good News Translation). This whole phrase may be translated “the things they had captured in war” or “the animals they had taken in battle.” New Century Version translates “the valuable things Asa’s army had taken from their enemies,” and Contemporary English Version says “what they had brought back from Gerar.”

For oxen see the comments on 1 Chr 12.40.

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 had great stores in the cities of Judah: The Hebrew noun rendered stores has a wide range of meaning. In this context the noun may be understood in two rather different ways. In may refer (a) to the “work” of strong fortification or (b) to the presence of many military “supplies.” Among those translations of this clause that follow the first interpretation are “He carried out great works in the cities of Judah” (New Revised Standard Version), “There was great activity in the cities of Judah” (Nouvelle version Segond révisée), and “He had many projects in the cities of Yʾhudah” (Complete Jewish Bible). The second interpretation is adopted in the following translations: “He accumulated ample supplies in the towns of Judah” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “He stored numerous supplies in Judah’s towns” (New Living Translation). The majority of versions and commentaries (for example, Anchor Bible and Dillard) seem to favor this second interpretation. However, it is unnecessarily limiting to speak only of “supplies of food” (God’s Word) since the Hebrew noun may refer to objects or products of all types.

He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem: Soldiers and mighty men of valor refer to the same group. Good News Translation combines both expressions, saying “outstanding officers.” For mighty men of valor, see the comments on 1 Chr 12.21. This phrase may be rendered “mighty warriors” (New Revised Standard Version) or “distinguished warriors” (An American Translation).

Good News Translation begins a new paragraph in the middle of this verse, but the majority of versions make the paragraph break at the beginning of the verse.

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 say: Unlike the parallel text in 1 Kgs 22.27, the Hebrew verb rendered say is plural. Ahab continues to address the whole group of those who would arrest Micaiah.

Thus says the king is a way of formally stating that what follows is a royal demand. But it is the king who is speaking, so in many languages the third person reference will be transformed into first person as follows: “this is what I say.” Bible en français courant has only one level of quotation for verses 25-26 and conveys the meaning of this clause by saying “You will order them on my behalf to….” While this element is not present in Good News Translation, it should be retained where possible. By using indirect discourse here, both Good News Translation and Bible en français courant have avoided the need for the three levels of quotation in Revised Standard Version.

Put this fellow in prison: This fellow is literally “this.” Some interpreters think that the Hebrew construction here is an expression of contempt, but that is far from certain.

And feed him with scant fare of bread and water is literally “and feed him bread of oppression and water of oppression.” Micaiah is to be given only enough food and water to keep him alive. In languages where bread is considered a luxury, a literal translation may be misleading here. If so, possible models are “and feed him the minimum of food and water” and “and feed him only what he needs to stay alive.”

Until I return in peace means until Ahab returns safely from fighting against the Syrians. The word peace implies that he thinks he will return without having been harmed. Bible en français courant makes this explicit by translating “until I return safe and sound from this expedition.” Compare “until I return safely from the battle” (New Living Translation, New Century Version) and “until I return victorious” (Nouvelle Bible Segond).

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 said: The pronoun he refers to Jahaziel. In some languages it may be necessary to replace this pronoun with the proper name (so Good News Translation, Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Nueva Versión Internacional).

The verb Hearken is somewhat archaic in English, so New Revised Standard Version says “Listen.” Revised English Bible also provides a good model with “Pay attention.”

All Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Some languages will reverse the order of these addressees for naturalness by placing King Jehoshaphat first. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version do this by beginning with “Your Majesty.” Since Jerusalem was the capital of Judah, it may be better to render all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem as “all you the people of Judah, including those of you who live in Jerusalem.”

Thus says the LORD to you: See the comments on 1 Chr 17.4. According to the punctuation of Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version, the word of the LORD continues through the middle of verse 17. However, other versions take it through the end of that verse (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, La Bible Pléiade). Either way of understanding these verses is possible and acceptable.

Fear not and be not dismayed at this great multitude: The Hebrew here begins with a second person plural pronoun that gives a slight emphasis. It may be expressed by beginning with “As for you, fear not….” The Hebrew verbal expressions for Fear not and be not dismayed are similar in meaning; but the first one has to do with fear, while the second one involves discouragement and the tendency to give up hope (see the comments on 1 Chr 22.13). This great multitude may be rendered “this large army” (Good News Translation).

For the battle is not yours but God’s: This clause gives the reason for not being afraid or discouraged. It is because God will fight the battle for his people (compare Exo 14.13-14; 1 Sam 17.47). Contemporary English Version says “God will fight on your side!” Since God is speaking here, some languages will refer to him in the first person; for example, Parole de Vie says “The result of the battle does not depend on you, but on me, your God.”

The embedded quotation of the word of the LORD within the words of Jahaziel may be handled in different ways according to the receptor language; for example, either the main quotation or the embedded quotation may be expressed as indirect discourse. Two possible models for this verse are:

• Then Jahaziel told King Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem to listen carefully as he cited the word of the LORD: “Don’t be afraid! Do not be discouraged by this great army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

• Then Jahaziel said: “Your Majesty and all you people from Jerusalem and the rest of Judah, the LORD says that you don’t need to be afraid or let this powerful army discourage you. God himself will fight the battle for you.

If the first alternative is adopted, translators must be especially attentive to the translation of the following two verses since they are a continuation of the word of the LORD.

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 a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet: The writer does not state exactly when the prophet Elijah sent a this letter to Jehoram, so Bible en français courant adds the words “one day” near the beginning of this verse, which other languages may find helpful. This is the first mention of Elijah in 1-2 Chronicles. Revised Standard Version‘s literal rendering of this clause may give the impression that the letter acted on its own. It will be much more natural to say “Then Elijah the prophet wrote Jehoram this letter” (New Living Translation). It is even better to say “One day, Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet” (Contemporary English Version; similarly New International Version), since this rendering keeps the focus on Jehoram.

Thus says the LORD: See the comments on 1 Chr 17.4. The LORD’s speech continues until the end of verse 15. This embedded quotation may be avoided by making it indirect speech as Good News Translation has done.

The God of David your father: David was not the father of Jehoram, but his ancestor, so Good News Translation says “the God of your ancestor David.”

Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah: This clause begins a long complex sentence that is not completed until the end of verse 15. Verses 12b-13 give the reasons for God’s punishment in verses 14-15. Good News Translation breaks this long complex sentence into several sentences, which other languages may find helpful. For walked in the ways of, see the comments on 2 Chr 6.14 and 11.17. This phrase may be rendered “lived according to the example of” or “imitated the model of.” Jehoshaphat was the literal father of Jehoram, and Asa was his grandfather (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). For the positive example of Jehoshaphat, see 2 Chr 17.3-6; for that of Asa, see 2 Chr 14.2-5 and 15.17.

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 .

Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains who were set over the army: Then correctly renders the common Hebrew conjunction as a temporal connector here. Contemporary English Version renders it “At once” to highlight the suddenness of this next action in the story. It is mentioned again that Jehoiada was a priest, but this information may be left implied if it is clear in the context (so Good News Translation). Brought out is the reading of the Masoretic Text. Revised English Bible corrects the text to read “gave orders to” in agreement with the parallel text of 2 Kgs 11.15. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the reading in the Masoretic Text. Brought out probably means “sent out” (New International Version, New Century Version) in this context. Jehoiada sent the army commanders away from the Temple area with Athaliah. The captains who were set over the army is literally “the commanders of hundreds appointed over the army” (see verse 1), which means “the army leaders whom the king had appointed.” This expression may be rendered “the commanders who were in charge of the troops” (New Living Translation) or simply “the army commanders” (Contemporary English Version). It is not clear whether these military leaders are to be identified with those mentioned in verse 1.

Bring her out between the ranks: The difference between Bring her out and “Take her out” (Good News Translation) is a matter of perspective. Those versions following Revised Standard Version (so New Revised Standard Version, New International Version) seem to imply that Jehoiada, who gave the order, was already outside the Temple area shouting back inside to the guards who were still inside. But in all likelihood, he was still inside the Temple area with the men he was commanding. So Good News Translation (also New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) provides a better model for this context. The sense of the Hebrew phrase rendered between the ranks is not entirely clear. Is Athaliah to be taken out from inside the ranks of guards? Surely she would not have been allowed to enter inside of the circle of guards around Joash. Because of this difficulty, Revised English Bible corrects the Hebrew text to read “outside the precincts,” and this reading does fit well with the end of the verse, which says that Athaliah was not to be killed in the Temple area. But most modern versions attempt to follow the Masoretic Text as do Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. It is perhaps best to understand this phrase as meaning “between the rows of guards” (Good News Translation) so that she might not escape. A good model for this whole clause is “Take her out under guard.”

Any one who follows her is to be slain with the sword: Any one who follows her apparently refers to anyone who might attempt to rescue Athaliah. Or perhaps it is a more general reference to any of her followers, but there is no indication in the immediate context that there was a mass extermination of all her followers. The passive expression is to be slain may be made active by saying “must die” or simply “kill” (Good News Translation). In fact, the parallel text of 2 Kgs 11.15 use the active verb “slay.” As in 2 Chr 21.4, Good News Translation omits with the sword since “to kill with the sword” in Hebrew sometimes seems to be a fixed phrase that refers to a violent death, not necessarily by means of a sword.

For the priest said, “Do not slay her in the house of the LORD”: Here Jehoiada gives the reason for taking Athaliah outside the Temple area. He did not want her to be killed in the Temple area. A dead body there would have made the Temple ritually unclean (see Num 19.11-16). He had a great concern for the sanctity of the Temple.

Contemporary English Version restructures this verse by combining the two quotations of Jehoiada as follows:

• At once, Jehoiada said to the army commanders, “Don’t kill her near the LORD’s temple. Take her out in front of the troops, and be sure to kill all of her followers!”

In languages where there is a problem with the direct discourse in this verse, the quotations may be made into indirect discourse by saying:

• Then Jehoiada told the army officers to take her out of the Temple area under heavy guard and to kill any person who might try to save her. He told them not to kill her near the Temple.

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 first sentence of this verse follows a common formula found frequently in 1-2 Chronicles. It sums up the remainder of a king’s reign and tells where other information about him may be found. See the comments on 1 Chr 29.29 and 2 Chr 9.29. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible puts it in the form of a question, as it does elsewhere with similar summaries.

Accounts of his sons is literally “And his sons.” Revised Standard Version supplies the implied word Accounts. Jewish Publication Version translates “Now concerning his sons.”

And of the many oracles against him: The Hebrew word rendered oracles may also be understood to mean “prophecies” or “pronouncements.” Further, the Hebrew word translated against may also be understood to mean simply “about” or “regarding.” These ambiguities in the Hebrew explain the different translations for oracles against him, such as “prophecies about him” (New International Version, New Living Translation), “prophecies spoken against him” (Good News Translation), “pronouncements against him” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and “divine revelations against him” (God’s Word). Another Hebrew word, which has the same spelling as the word translated oracles, means “a load” or “a burden.” This Hebrew word is sometimes used in reference to tribute that a foreign king required a conquered king to pay to him (see, for example, 2 Chr 17.11). In this context such an interpretation also makes sense and is the basis for the following translations: “what moneys he amassed” (Knox), “tribute imposed on him” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), and “contributions that he received” (Bible en français courant alternative translation).

And of the rebuilding of the house of God is literally “and the founding of the house of God.” The Hebrew word for “founding” clearly refers to rebuilding in this context.

Are written in the Commentary on the Book of the Kings: Are written is literally “behold, they are written” (NASB). The Hebrew word for “behold” draws attention to the source cited here. The Commentary on the Book of the Kings is unknown today. So there is no way of knowing whether it has any relationship at all to what is known today as 1-2 Kings. Good News Translation restructures this verse, mentioning the source first and thus avoiding the use of the passive verb are written.

And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead: The name of the new king of Judah is Amaziah. 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 .