Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah: Jeremiah refers to the prophet who wrote the biblical book by that name, so Good News Translation says “The prophet Jeremiah.” Uttered a lament renders a single verb in Hebrew which means “to lament.” Laments were a common part of the mourning rituals for the dead among the Israelite people. The Hebrew verb here may mean “to sing sorrowful song[s]” or “to compose sorrowful song[s].” Several modern versions have “composed a lament” (Good News Translation, La Bible du Semeur, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible; similarly New International Version) or “wrote a funeral song” (Contemporary English Version; similarly New Century Version, Parole de Vie), but others say “sang a funeral song” (God’s Word) or “chanted a lament” (NASB). All these renderings are better than the one in Revised Standard Version. Translators must also decide whether to make the word “lament/song” singular or plural. Either interpretation is possible, but the words they are written at the end of the verse suggest that the plural is preferable. Versions opting for the plural are New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. Several versions indicate that the song or songs were for a funeral (so Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, God’s Word).

And all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day: Their laments refers to the funeral songs composed by Jeremiah for Josiah and used by mourners in Israel. For to this day, see the comments on 1 Chr 4.41. New Living Translation provides a helpful model for this clause, saying “and to this day choirs still sing these sad songs about his death.” New Century Version has “Even to this day all the men and women singers remember and honor Josiah with these songs.”

They made these an ordinance in Israel: The demonstrative pronoun these refers to the funeral songs composed by Jeremiah for Josiah. New Revised Standard Version renders the Hebrew word for ordinance as “custom,” and New International Version is similar with “tradition.” This Hebrew word clearly means “custom” in Jdg 11.39. Here in 2 Chronicles and some other contexts, it means “rule,” which is more than simply “custom.” To make something an ordinance would mean to ensure that it is used regularly when the circumstances are appropriate. If this interpretation is accepted, then a better rendering is “prescription” or “law.” Some helpful models for this clause are “These have been made obligatory for Israel” (New American Bible) and “They made these a rule in Israel” (English Standard Version).

Behold, they are written in the Laments: The Hebrew focusing particle rendered behold draws attention to the document cited here, but which is no longer available. The passive verb are written may be made active where necessary by saying “they [indefinite] have written them” or “someone has written them.” Some rabbinic traditions state that the Laments refers to part of the biblical book of Lamentations. In agreement with this understanding, An American Translation says “the Lamentations.” However, Jeremiah’s funeral songs for Josiah are not in the book of Lamentations, at least not in the form it is known today. It is possible that Lamentations originally contained additional material that is no longer available. Lamentations does not report the death of Josiah, and Jer 22.10 makes only an allusion to this event. The Laments may be rendered “the Book of Laments” (New Living Translation) or “the Book of the Funeral Songs” (God’s Word).

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 .