He adorned the house with settings of precious stones: The Hebrew verb for adorned is the same one translated “overlaid” in verses 4 and 10. But the context here is different and this will justify a different verb in translation in some languages. In English the verb “to stud” will correctly express the meaning (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Good News Translation and La Bible du Semeur render the house as “the Temple,” but the reference is probably to the nave mentioned in verse 5 rather than to the whole Temple, and then verse 8 begins the description of the last room, the Most Holy Place. In fact, El libro del Pueblo de Dios says “the nave” here in verse 6.

Settings of precious stones is literally “stone precious for beauty.” The word settings is added by Revised Standard Version and retained in New Revised Standard Version, but does not reflect anything in the Hebrew. The adjective qualifying the word stones may also be understood to mean “rare” or “splendid” (Nouvelle Bible Segond). But because they were rare, they had great value. Osty-Trinquet speaks of “choice stones.” Most likely the precious stones were used to make mosaics in the floor, not that the walls were completely covered or overlaid with precious stones. For this whole clause La Bible du Semeur says “For decorating the Temple, they inserted precious stones.” But compare “He covered the building with gems to beautify it” (God’s Word), which seems to suggest that the walls were covered with gems. In fact, New Living Translation says “The walls of the Temple were decorated with beautiful jewels.”

The gold was gold of Parvaim is not to be understood as gold belonging to a person named Parvaim, but rather from a region famous for its production of the precious metal. Scholars have suggested that this region may have been either in southern Arabia (at modern Farwa in Yemen) or northern Arabia (at el-Farwein), but neither of these can be verified with any degree of certainty as being particularly famous for the mining of gold. Parvaim is referred to in one of the Dead Sea Scrolls of the book of Genesis as being the home of Enoch. But what is important for the translator in this context is to identify Parvaim as a geographical region. Compare “the land of Parvaim” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation). Some interpreters think that Parvaim is a variant spelling for Ophir, a place famous for its high-quality gold and mentioned several times in the Old Testament (see the comments on 1 Chr 29.4). However, since this is only speculation, translators should not substitute Ophir for Parvaim. Less likely, Parvaim may be a Hebrew word referring to a high-quality gold (so Vulgate). In any case, by saying that the gold was gold of Parvaim, the implication is clearly that this was “gold of best quality” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

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 the section started in the previous chapter. An American Translation includes all of 2 Chr 5.1–7.10 in one section called “The Dedication of the Temple,” but most versions divide chapters 5 and 6 into several smaller sections.

Thus correctly translates the common Hebrew conjunction here because this verse is a summary of what preceded (so also New Revised Standard Version, Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Reina-Valera revisada, Luther). However, other interpreters connect the first sentence in this verse more closely with what follows and translate the initial Hebrew conjunction as “When” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) or “After” (Contemporary English Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

All the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished …: In this verse the Temple is referred to as the house of the LORD and as the house of God. There does not seem to be any distinction in meaning. Therefore some versions do not maintain this distinction but rather render both expressions as “the Temple” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie say “the temple of the LORD” first, and then simply “the temple.” New Living Translation and La Bible du Semeur maintain the distinction by saying “the Temple of the LORD” and “the Temple of God.”

Was finished translates a Hebrew verb that has the same consonants as the name Solomon. The writer may have intended a wordplay in the Hebrew text, but such a wordplay will be impossible to maintain in most other languages. In addition to this, this passive verb will have to be made active in many languages. The implied subject is Solomon as overseer of the project that was carried out by workers under his supervision.

And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated: The things which David his father had dedicated is literally “the holy things of David, his father.” But Revised Standard Version and others have rightly clarified the meaning by making clear the relationship between “the holy things” and “David.” Good News Translation clarifies it even more by saying “all the things that his father David had dedicated to the LORD.” See 2 Sam 8.9-12; 1 Chr 18.9-11; 22.14; 26.26-27. Since these things were set apart for God, they were “holy things.”

The Hebrew says that Solomon brought in these objects, but most likely the intended sense is that he had other people bring them into the Temple. Compare “had [them] brought in” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente; similarly Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, La Bible du Semeur).

And stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels: For the Hebrew word rendered vessels, see the comments on 1 Chr 28.13. Other translations of this word here include “utensils” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “objects used in worship” (Contemporary English Version).

The treasuries of the house of God: See the comments on 1 Chr 9.26 and 26.20.

Most interpreters understand the Hebrew in this verse to mean that Solomon brought the various items into the Temple after the Temple was built. However, Berkeley reads “At various times, while the work which Solomon did for the house of the LORD was being finished, he brought the things….” According to this translation, Solomon was bringing these things into the Temple while it was being built.

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 situation that Solomon presents in verses 26-27 reflects the curse of Deut 28.23-24 that would come upon the people if they disobeyed God. Such a situation does, in fact, occur later at the time of the prophet Elijah (1 Kgs 18).

When heaven is shut up and there is no rain refers to a lack of rain. Heaven is “the skies” (New Living Translation, Moffatt). The Hebrew here does not say directly that God withholds the rain, but such is clearly the meaning of these two clauses. Good News Translation makes the meaning explicit by stating “When you hold back the rain,” and so does New Century Version with “you will stop the rain from falling on their land.”

Because they have sinned against thee: See the comments on verse 24.

If they pray toward this place: See the comments on verse 21.

And acknowledge thy name: See the comments on verse 24.

And turn from their sin means to stop sinning. As in the previous verse, the singular word for sin in Hebrew has a collective sense, so it is better rendered “sins” (New Living Translation). For this whole clause Contemporary English Version says “If they stop sinning” (similarly New Century Version).

When thou dost afflict them: Afflict renders a Hebrew verb that means “to oppress” or “to humble.” In this context the punishment or affliction takes the form of withholding rain. Good News Translation leaves this clause implicit since it repeats in different words what is said at the beginning of the verse (“When you hold back the rain”). If possible, translators should keep this clause since it adds the idea of punishment.

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 17-18 form a conditional sentence. Verse 17 expresses the conditions that Solomon must fulfill, and verse 18 states what God will do if Solomon does what is expected of him.

And as for you is literally “And you.” The second person pronoun here in Hebrew places focus on Solomon. Revised Standard Version attempts to capture the force of the Hebrew by saying as for you (so also New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, English Standard Version). Revised English Bible begins the verse with “If you, for your part.” But the focus may be maintained by the use of an emphatic pronoun in other languages or by using some other means; for example, Contemporary English Version says “Solomon, you.”

If you walk before me, as David your father walked: The use of the verb walk to refer to the behavior or way of living of a person is common in Scripture (see 2 Chr 6.14), but a literal translation may not convey the same meaning in some languages. Some may prefer to render walk before me as “serve me” (New Century Version), “faithfully follow me” (New Living Translation), or “be faithful to me” (God’s Word). An alternative model for both these clauses is “if you live in my sight as your father David lived” (similarly Revised English Bible).

Doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my ordinances: These words spell out clearly the meaning of walk before me. For statutes and ordinances, see the comments on 1 Chr 22.13.

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 10-11 are parenthetical and pick up the story from 2 Chr 8.17-18 regarding the sailors who brought gold to Solomon from the country of Ophir. Good News Translation places them in a separate paragraph within parentheses, which is helpful.

Moreover renders the common Hebrew conjunction and an adverb, which is literally “also” (Good News Translation). This adverb indicates that it was not only the queen of Sheba who brought valuable items to Solomon but also the sailors of Hiram and Solomon. Revised English Bible begins this verse with “Besides all this.” Another possible model is “In addition to all this.”

The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir: See the comments on 2 Chr 8.18. Servants refers to sea-faring men in this context, so it may be rendered “sailors” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). New International Version and New Century Version say simply “men.”

For algum wood, see the comments on 2 Chr 2.8; for precious stones, see 2Chr 9.1.

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 the king answered them harshly: The king again refers to Rehoboam and may be replaced by his proper name (so Contemporary English Version) if this is more natural in the receptor language. The pronoun them refers to “the people” mentioned in the previous verse, and this may be made explicit in languages where the reader may be uncertain about who is intended. The Hebrew adjective translated harshly comes from the same root as the verb rendered “made … heavy” in verse 4. Here it qualifies the speaking of the king as being done in a severe and unkind way. For this whole clause International Children’s Bible translates “Then King Rehoboam spoke to them in a cruel way,” while Contemporary English Version has “He spoke bluntly.” Another possible model is “Rehoboam gave them a bad response.”

And forsaking the counsel of the old men refers back to verse 8. See the comments there, especially on the verb “forsook.”

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 may be better rendered “Later on” (similarly New Living Translation) or “Afterwards,” since the actions described in this verse most likely did not take place immediately.

King Rehoboam made in their stead shields of bronze: Rehoboam replaced the gold shields with bronze ones. It is not likely that he himself made them but rather that he “had [them] made” (Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous). For the translation of the word bronze, see the comments on 1 Chr 15.19 and 2 Chr 1.5.

And committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard: Revised Standard Version has added the pronoun them as the context requires in English. The Hebrew verb translated committed, when used in its form here, means “to hand over to someone” or “to give [something] on deposit.” For committed them to the hands of, NASB says “committed them to the care of.” The guard is literally “the runners” (La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet). One of their duties was to run before the king as his bodyguard and protect him. The Hebrew word here is plural, which is also the sense of the English words the guard.

Who kept the door of the king’s house: The door of the king’s house is a literal translation of the Hebrew and refers to the doors or gates of the royal palace. New International Version, New American Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh say “the entrance to/of the royal palace.” The Contemporary English Version rendering “the city gates” does not express the correct meaning. For this whole clause Revised English Bible has “who guarded the entrance of the palace,” while New Living Translation says “who protected the entrance to the royal palace.”

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 .

He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars: The pronoun He refers to Asa, which may be made explicit (so New Living Translation, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). The exact meaning of the Hebrew word translated incense altars is uncertain. Some think it means “shrines.” Moffatt says “sun-pillars,” and La Bible Pléiade has “obelisks,” which are upright four-sided pillars.

And the kingdom had rest under him is literally “and the kingdom had rest before him.” See 2Chr 14.1. Revised Standard Version reflects the structure of the Hebrew text, which connects the two parts of this verse with the common conjunction rendered And. However, it is clear that the southern kingdom of Judah had peace because of the actions of King Asa. Therefore it may be better to follow the model of Good News Translation, which renders this clause as a result (also New Jerusalem Bible). Compare Bible en français courant, which says “with the result that the kingdom was quiet during his reign.”

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 .