Do not let Hezekiah make you to rely on the LORD: The Hebrew verb rendered here is the causative form of the same verb used in verses 5, 19 and 20 (see the comments there). It continues the theme of reliance or confidence so prominent in this chapter.

By saying …: The embedded quotation here will complicate the translation in some languages. But Good News Translation provides a good model to avoid this problem.

The LORD will surely deliver us translates an emphatic Hebrew construction that is literally “To deliver the LORD will deliver us.” See the discussion on reinforcing verbs in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 15.

The word hand again refers to power, and translators should avoid translating it literally unless the meaning is both clear and natural in the receptor language.

Since the king of Assyria represents his whole fighting force, some languages may follow the model of Good News Translation in speaking of “our Assyrian army.”

There are actually three levels of quotation in verses 29-30 and again in verses 31-32. A possible way of handling verses 29-30 would be to follow Contemporary English Version:

• Don’t be fooled by Hezekiah. He can’t save you. Don’t trust him when he tells you that the LORD will protect you from the king of Assyria.

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