Some men came and told Jehoshaphat is literally “And they came and told Jehoshaphat.” The subject is indefinite in the Hebrew text. There is certainly no emphasis on the maleness of the people who brought this news, so it is probably better to render men as as “messengers” (Good News Translation) or simply “people.” In languages where passive verbs are common, this whole clause may be rendered “It was reported to King Jehoshaphat.”

A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea: The messengers report that a large army from Edom had invaded Judah. A great multitude is coming against you may be rendered “A large army has invaded our country” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Edom was a country southeast of the Dead Sea (see the comments on 1 Chr 18.11). In Hebrew from Edom is in apposition to the phrase from beyond the sea. This phrase locates Edom in relation to Israel as on the other side of the Dead Sea. In order to avoid misunderstanding about which sea is meant, translators may wish to name the sea, as Good News Translation and some other modern versions have done.

There is a textual problem with the name Edom. One Hebrew manuscript, the Old Latin translation, and the original reading in the Septuagint have this name, which is followed by most modern versions. Other Hebrew manuscripts have the name “Aram” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Nouvelle Bible Segond), that is, Syria (so Nouvelle version Segond révisée), a nation to the northeast of Israel. The geographic facts of this passage support the reading Edom, and so do verses 10, 22, and 23. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends this reading with a {C} rating.

And, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi): The Hebrew focusing particle rendered behold draws the attention of the king to the nearness of the attack from Edom. The name Hazazon-tamar occurs only here and in Gen 14.7. Because it is relatively unknown, the writer provides the information for the original readers that it is also called En-gedi. En-gedi, whose name means “fountain of the young goat,” was on the west shore of the Dead Sea. Since En-gedi was part of the kingdom of Judah, Good News Translation renders they are in Hazazon-tamar as “They have already captured Hazazon Tamar.”

The direct quotation of this verse may be translated indirectly in those languages where direct discourse is not acceptable. A possible model is as follows:

• Some people came and reported to Jehoshaphat that a large army was invading Judah from the other side of the Dead Sea, that is, from Edom. They told him that this army was already in Hazazon Tamar, which is also called Engedi.

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 .