The man Jeroboam: These words may sound strange if translated literally in other languages. The same kind of structure is used in Jdg 17.5 (“the man Micah”) and in 1 Sam 1.21 (“the man Elkanah”). In this case it may be intended to distinguish the man referred to here from another by the same name. For this reason several versions translate “this Jeroboam” (New Jerusalem Bible, Knox, La Bible du Semeur, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

The words very able translate two Hebrew words. In 1 Sam 9.1 they describe Saul’s father, Kish, which Revised Standard Version translates as “a man of wealth.” In 1 Sam 16.18 they describe David, which Revised Standard Version translates as “a man of valor.” The Hebrew is literally “strong of power/wealth.” The second word has various meanings depending on the context: “power,” “ability,” “wealth,” and “property.” Some understand the words here in 1 Kings as a reference to Jeroboam’s social status. New American Bible, for example, calls him “a man of means,” and New International Version “a man of standing.” Most, however, understand these words as a description of Jeroboam’s physical abilities. Compare “an able young man” (Good News Translation), “very able” (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, An American Translation), “a man of great ability” (Revised English Bible), and “a man of great energy” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Solomon saw that the young man was industrious: The Hebrew word translated young man is the same word that is rendered “child” in verse 17 (see the comments there). Obviously the term has a rather broad meaning and in this context it seems clear that Jeroboam was more than a small child. Industrious is literally “a doer of work.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has translated the meaning as “a capable worker.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has translated the whole clause as “Solomon had noticed the young man while he was working.” But the meaning is more specifically “Solomon noticed how active the young man was” (Moffatt) or “… saw that the young man worked hard.”

Forced labor: See the comments on 1 Kgs 4.6. The Hebrew term used here is different from that rendered “forced labor” in 1 Kgs 4.6; 5.13; 9.15; and 12.18. This Hebrew noun elsewhere means “a burden” and is here translated “porter service” by Gray and “porterage” by De Vries. Only here does it have the meaning “forced labor” (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, La Bible du Semeur) or “labor force.” Since 1 Kgs 9.22 states that Israelites were not included among those who were required to do forced labor, and since the Hebrew noun here in verse 28 is not the usual word for forced labor, some interpreters argue that “labor force” is a better rendering (so New International Version, New American Bible). Contemporary English Version renders this “work force” and Revised English Bible says “labour-gangs.” Since it is not certain that this verse is referring to forced labor in the technical sense, translators should use a different term or expression from that used in 1 Kgs 4.6. Here something similar to “labour-gangs” or “work force” is recommended.

The house of Joseph: Joseph was the father of Manasseh and Ephraim (Gen 46.20). Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente correctly indicates that this phrase refers to “the descendants of Joseph,” but many readers may not know that it refers specifically to the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. The sense here is clearly expressed in Good News Translation as “in the territory of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim” (similarly Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). Unless a similar rendering is given, it will probably be necessary to add a footnote to explain the meaning of Joseph in this context.

It is not clear from the Hebrew (a) whether the laborers from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim were actually working “in” their own tribal territory (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible) and that Jeroboam was transferred from Jerusalem to be over them or (b) whether they were working in Jerusalem. This second interpretation may be the intended meaning of the New Living Translation rendering for the last part of the verse, which reads “he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .