This verse also begins with the Hebrew verbal transition, which is literally “And it happened” (similarly New American Bible). King James Version again renders it “And it came to pass.” Like Revised Standard Version, most versions omit it.

In the fifth year of King Rehoboam refers to the fifth year of his “reign” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible, Moffatt), which was about 927 B.C.

Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD: The pronoun they refers to King Rehoboam and the subjects in his kingdom. Had been unfaithful translates a Hebrew verb meaning “to be untrue” or “to violate one’s legal obligations” (see the comments on 1 Chr 10.13). This word is a common term in 1-2 Chronicles for disobedience. Other possible renderings for this clause are “because they disobeyed the LORD” and “because they were disloyal to the LORD” (similarly Revised English Bible).

Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: Shishak was the founder of the twenty-second dynasty in Egypt and ruled for twenty-one years. Some scholars date his reign to 931–910 B.C.; and others, to 945–924 B.C. His Egyptian name was Shoshenq I (also spelled as Sheshonq and Shusheq). He was born in Egypt, but he came from a line of Libyan nobles. Came up against is a literal translation of the Hebrew. A more natural English rendering in this context is “attacked” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible). New Jerusalem Bible has “marched on,” and Jerusalem Bible says “marched against.”

In some languages it may be preferable to restructure this verse. Compare the following translations:

• In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak the king of Egypt came to attack Jerusalem: this was the consequence of their infidelity to the Lord [Bible en français courant; similarly La Bible du Semeur].

• Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam [New International 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 .

And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him: New Living Translation provides a helpful model here with “Abijah and his army pursued Jeroboam’s troops and captured some of his towns.”

Bethel with its villages and Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages: These cities and villages were located in the territory of Benjamin (see Josh 18.21-24). These cities may have been lost to the northern kingdom and then recaptured. Bethel was located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of Jerusalem. Jeshanah was located about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) north of Jerusalem. Ephron is the spelling in the Hebrew text, but the corrected spelling in the margin of the Masoretic Text is “Ephrain” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Ephron, which is often identified with Ophrah in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 18.23), was located about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) northeast of Bethel and 21 kilometers (13 miles) north-northeast of Jerusalem.

For the Hebrew word rendered villages (literally “daughters”), see the comments on 1 Chr 2.23. Instead of repeating with its villages three times in this verse, many languages will find it more natural to follow the model of Good News Translation, New International Version, and others that give the names of the three cities and then mention their surrounding villages all together.

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 took oath to the LORD with a loud voice …: The Hebrew verb rendered took oath is literally “swore an oath” (similarly God’s Word). Revised English Bible translates “bound themselves by an oath.” New Living Translation begins this verse with “They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the LORD….” Contemporary English Version makes the pronoun They clearer by beginning with “The crowd solemnly agreed to keep their promise to the LORD….”

And with shouting, and with trumpets, and with horns: The taking of this oath was accompanied by a great deal of fanfare, including loud shouting and the playing of musical instruments. Two different instruments are mentioned: trumpets and horns. For trumpets see the comments on 1 Chr 13.8; for horns see 1 Chr 15.28. Moffatt refers to “trumpets” and “bugles.” Good News Translation mentions “trumpets” only, but since two different kinds of instruments are named in the Hebrew text, translators should keep both if possible.

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 next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri: Since Amasiah was the next in command after Adnah and Jehohanan, next to him may be rendered “third in rank” (similarly Good News Translation) or “next in command.” Zichri was the father of Amasiah.

A volunteer for the service of the LORD: The Hebrew word rendered volunteer is a verb that is translated more literally in King James Version as “who willingly offered himself” (similarly New American Bible). In other contexts this verb means “to make a voluntary contribution” (see, for example, 1 Chr 29.5-6). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh takes the word to have this meaning here also, saying “who made a freewill offering,” without indicating what the offering consisted of. Good News Translation takes this whole clause as parenthetical, but it may be equally well translated as a relative clause.

With two hundred thousand mighty men of valor: The Hebrew word rendered mighty men is singular, but the context clearly requires the plural for meaning.

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 .

Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots: For Syria (literally “Aram”), see the comments on verse 10. The captains of his chariots were the men who decided which way the Syrian chariots were to go. According to 1 Kgs 22.31, there were thirty-two chariot commanders. For chariots see the comments on 1 Chr 18.4 and 2 Chr 1.14.

Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel: Neither small nor great is a way of including everyone. A similar expression occurs in Num 22.18, where Revised Standard Version has “less or more.” Moffatt takes this expression to refer to “no one, young or old.” Good News Translation correctly expresses the meaning as “no one else.” This phrase may also be expressed as “neither the simple soldiers or the officers” (La Bible du Semeur) or “anyone—important or unimportant” (New Century Version).

The direct quotation of Revised Standard Version is made into indirect speech in Good News Translation and some other versions (for example, Revised English Bible and Moffatt). In languages where direct quotations are not often used, these versions provide good alternative models. Revised English Bible says “The king of Aram had ordered the captains of his chariots not to engage all and sundry, but the king of Israel alone.”

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 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: This gesture is a sign of respect when it is done in the presence of another human being (see the comments on 1 Chr 21.21). But in this case it is before Yahweh, giving evidence of humility and deference toward the God before whom the king bows.

And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD: All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem may be better expressed as “all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the rest of Judah.” The Hebrew verb rendered fell down is similar in meaning to the expression for bowed his head with his face to the ground. In languages that lack synonyms for this action, the two expressions may have to be translated in the same way.

Worshiping the LORD: For the Hebrew verb rendered worshiping, see the comments on 2 Chr 7.3.

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 you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels: You yourself renders an independent personal pronoun in Hebrew. The LORD just spoke of what would happen to others in the kingdom of Jehoram, but now he turns his attention to the king himself and focuses specifically on what will happen to him. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh begins this verse with “As for you, you…” to express the focus. A severe sickness is literally “many sicknesses.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible speaks of “serious illnesses,” and Bible en français courant says “diverse maladies.” But the meaning may be simply “a chronic disease” (Revised English Bible). The Hebrew word for bowels refers to the intestines, that is, the inner organs of the lower abdomen. The exact nature of the disease is not stated, but perhaps it was cancer.

Until your bowels come out because of the disease: The Hebrew here may also be understood to mean “until your bowels shall waste away…” (An American Translation). But the more likely meaning is that the intestines will “prolapse” (Revised English Bible) or “drop out” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh); see verse 19.

Day by day: Moffatt says “year after year.” According to one way of translating verse 19, this disease occurred two years later. But most versions indicate in one way or another that the king’s disease occurred immediately and became worse “every day” (New Century 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 .

And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the LORD under the direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites …: The Hebrew verb translated posted is very similar in meaning to the verb rendered “set” at the beginning of verse 10. Posted watchmen may be rendered “committed the supervision” (Revised English Bible) or “placed the oversight” (New International Version). Under the direction of is literally “in the hand of” (similarly New International Version). The Levitical priests and the Levites is literally “the Levitical priests” (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible). Revised Standard Version adds and the Levites, but the idea of Levites should only be mentioned once as in the Hebrew text. Some Hebrew manuscripts as well as the Septuagint and the Vulgate say “the priests and the Levites” (Revised English Bible), which is an acceptable reading here. Possible renderings for this whole clause are “Then Jehoiada chose the priests, who were Levites, to be responsible for the Temple of the LORD” (New Century Version) and “Jehoiada now put the priests and the Levites in charge of the Temple of the LORD” (New Living Translation).

Whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the LORD: See 1 Chr 28.13.

To offer burnt offerings to the LORD: For burnt offerings, see the comments on 1 Chr 16.1.

As it is written in the law of Moses: For the law of Moses, see the comments on 2 Chr 17.9. The passive verb is written may be made active by saying “as Moses wrote in the Law.” Another possible model is “in conformity to the Law of Moses.”

With rejoicing and singing describes the manner in which sacrifices were offered.

According to the order of David: Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit this phrase since they view it as redundant, that is, as being a repetition of what has already been stated above about David having organized the priests and Levites to do the Temple work. However, here it has more to do with the manner in which the offerings were made, so it should be kept. New Century Version says “as David had commanded,” and New Living Translation has “as David had instructed.”

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 .