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 “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” instead of went up.

All the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem … all the people: 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 in this context the broader, more general meaning is probably intended. Both New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible translate “all the people of Judah.” Good News Translation does not translate literally the words all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem since it speaks of “all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem” in verse 1. Rather, it simply says “all the rest of the people” in this verse. Some kind of restructuring like this will be acceptable in other languages.

Instead of the prophets, the parallel passage in 2 Chr 34.30 has “the Levites,” as do some Hebrew manuscripts for this verse. But there is little serious textual justification for harmonizing the two passages. No major English version does so.

Both small and great: The list of those accompanying the king to the Temple is all-inclusive. This expression probably refers to the various social classes rather than to the ages of the people involved. For this reason Good News Translation speaks of “rich and poor alike,” and New Century Version says “from the least important to the most important.” Compare 2 Kgs 25.26 and 1 Sam 30.2, where the same expression is used. Compare also 1 Kgs 22.31, which has a similar expression.

He read in their hearing all the words …: Contrary to the references in chapter 22 (verses 8, 10 and 16), 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 chapter 22 (verses 8 and 11). 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 chapter 22. For covenant see the comments at 1 Kgs 3.15.

The passive construction which had been found may more naturally be translated with a verb in the active voice in many languages. This may be restated as “which Hilkiah had found” (see 2 Kgs 22.8).

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 .