And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God: Since this verse describes additional wrongdoing on the part of King Ahaz, the common Hebrew conjunction rendered And may be translated in such a way as to show the cumulative effect of his actions. Good News Translation attempts to do so with “In addition,” but many versions leave this transition word untranslated (so New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version).

The Hebrew noun translated vessels refers to various items used in the Temple (see the comments on 1 Chr 28.13). A general word such as “equipment” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Anchor Bible), which covers a wide range of items, may be used here. See the parallel text of 2 Kgs 16.17. The Hebrew text, followed by Revised Standard Version, repeats the words the vessels of the house of God, but such repetition may be seen as too redundant in the receptor language (so Good News Translation). The text does not explain why Ahaz cut in pieces all the Temple equipment, but presumably he did so in an effort to prevent the worship of Yahweh, just as that was the purpose of closing the doors to the Temple.

And he shut up the doors of the house of the LORD means more than simply closing the Temple doors. This clause may be rendered “then he locked the doors of the temple” (Parole de Vie; similarly Contemporary English Version) or “then he kept people out of the Temple.” Doors translates a Hebrew noun that refers to something that covers an entrance. Depending on the context, it may refer to a gate or a door. Since this verse has no parallel in 2 Kings, it is not possible to know which is intended here, that is, whether it refers to the doors of the Temple building or the gates of the wall around the Temple. Most versions refer to the doors of the Temple here. The house of the LORD refers to the same building as the house of God, so translators should avoid giving the impression that two different structures are intended. Good News Translation renders both phrases as “the Temple.”

And he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem: The altars in view here were for other gods. Contemporary English Version makes this clear by saying “altars to foreign gods.” In every corner of Jerusalem is probably not to be taken literally, but is a way of saying that the construction of altars was widespread in Jerusalem. In some languages it may be better to say “all over Jerusalem” or “everywhere in Jerusalem.” However, Contemporary English Version and New Century Version take the Hebrew words here literally by saying “on every street corner in Jerusalem.”

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 .