Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: If Ahab is identified as king of Israel and Jehoshaphat as king of Judah in verse 1, then it may not be necessary or natural in the receptor language to repeat that information here (so Good News Translation). Since the verb said introduces a question, it may be better in some languages to translate it “asked,” as in Good News Translation and some other modern versions.

Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?: The parallel text in 1 Kgs 22.4 says “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” Ahab is requesting military assistance. Good News Translation makes this explicit by saying “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?” Similar renderings are “Will you help me to attack Ramoth?” and “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” (New International Version).

He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war”: Jehoshaphat’s reply indicates that the people in the southern kingdom of Judah are one with the people of the northern kingdom of Israel. Whatever Ahab wishes to do, the people of Judah will join with him. Jehoshaphat gave a similar response to King Jehoram of Israel in 2 Kgs 3.7. Moffatt renders his response as “I am one with you, my men are one with your men; we will join you in the war.” Good News Translation takes the Hebrew noun for people in the specific sense of “army,” which is a common meaning for it (see the comments on 1 Chr 19.14).

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 .