Thus says the LORD: For the translation of this expression, see the comments on 1 Chr 17.4. Because there are three levels of quotation in verses 3-4, Good News Translation omits this clause to simplify the structure (see the comments on the previous verse). Contemporary English Version keeps it by saying “The LORD warns you.”

You shall not go up or fight against your brethren: The verb go up reflects the geographical fact that the location of the troops of Jeroboam was at a higher elevation than that of the troops of Rehoboam. However, the upward movement is not essential to the story, so some modern versions leave this element out (so Contemporary English Version, New Century Version). The use of the common Hebrew conjunction rendered or between the verbs go up and fight may be confusing. Unfortunately, New Revised Standard Version retains this connector. A better rendering is “go up to fight” (New International Version) or “go up to make war” (Revised English Bible). The two verbs may be combined by saying “go to war” (Contemporary English Version, New Century Version), “fight” (New Living Translation), or “attack” (Good News Translation).

The ten northern tribes are called brethren here since they came from the same ancestor (Jacob) as the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Other translations include “relatives” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, English Standard Version), “compatriots” (La Bible du Semeur), “kinsmen” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and “kindred” (New Revised Standard Version).

For this thing is from me: See 2 Chr 10.15. Moffatt says “What has happened, I have caused to happen.” The Hebrew text places emphasis on the pronoun for me. For this reason Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “For it is I who have provoked this event.”

So they hearkened to the word of the LORD: New Revised Standard Version avoids the archaic English verb hearkened and uses modern English by saying “So they heeded the word of the LORD.” The Hebrew verb rendered hearkened means “listened,” and in this context it implies not only that they heard, but that they also obeyed. Perhaps a better rendering is “obeyed” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible).

And did not go against Jeroboam: The sense here is that they “did not go to fight Jeroboam” (Good News Translation). New Revised Standard Version says “turned back from the expedition against Jeroboam.”

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 .