And the king went up to the house of the LORD …: According to a common structure in Hebrew, the verb went up is singular with only the king as subject. But this is followed by a list of the other groups that joined him in going to the Temple. It is also implied that “the elders” mentioned in the previous verse went along with the king and all the other people. A literal rendering of Revised Standard Version here may prove to be unnatural in certain languages. Good News Translation provides a more natural model in English, saying “and together they went to the Temple….” Even though going to the Temple involved moving up in elevation, it may be more natural in many languages to say simply “went” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) instead of went up.

All the men of Judah may be taken in a very general sense as referring to all people of Judah, or it may have a more restricted military sense. But given the context the broader, more general meaning is probably intended. New Revised Standard Version translates “all the people of Judah.” Since other members of the people of Judah are mentioned in this context, Good News Translation places this phrase toward the end of the sentence and translates more precisely “all the rest of the people.”

Both small and great: The list of those accompanying the king to the Temple is all-inclusive. Versions express this phrase in various ways: (1) all social classes (for example, “rich and poor alike” in Good News Translation; “high and low” in Revised English Bible; “from the most important to the least important” in New Century Version) and (2) all ages (for example, “young and old” in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Moffatt). Bible en français courant speaks of “people of all conditions.” Compare 1 Chr 25.8 and 26.13, where a similar expression is used.

And he read in their hearing all the words …: The Hebrew text makes it quite clear that in this case the book of the Law was read out loud so that all the people could hear (in their hearing [literally “in their ears”]) and that the book was read in its entirety (all the words).

The book of the covenant: This book was previously referred to as “the book of the law” in verses 14 and 15 (see also 2 Chr 17.9). But there is little doubt that the same book is intended. If readers are likely to understand that a completely different book is meant, then translators must ensure that this mistaken notion is avoided. This may be done either through a footnote or by translating the same way here as in verses 14 and 15. For covenant see the comments on 1 Chr 11.3.

Which had been found in the house of the LORD: The passive construction here may be translated more naturally with a verb in the active voice in many languages by saying “which Hilkiah had found…” (see verses 14-15).

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 .