In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods: Since the writer has just been discussing Jerusalem, the capital city, the words In every city of Judah may be better translated “In all the other cities of Judah.” For high places, see the comments on 1 Chr 16.39 and 2 Chr 1.3. In this context the Hebrew verb rendered to burn incense may also be translated “to burn sacrifices” (New International Version; see the comments on 1 Chr 23.13 for this verb). Other gods refers to other gods than Yahweh, who was considered the only true God. This phrase may be rendered “false gods” (La Bible du Semeur) or “foreign gods” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

Provoking to anger the LORD: Building places to worship other gods would certainly make Yahweh angry according to Deuteronomy (see, for example, 4.25 and 9.18). Provoking to anger renders a causative verb in Hebrew meaning “causing … to become angry.” Moffatt uses the somewhat archaic verb “vexed,” while Knox has “enraged.”

The God of his fathers may be rendered “the God whom his ancestors worshiped.”

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 .