So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun: For couriers see the comments on 2Chr 30.6. The country of Ephraim and Manasseh may be rendered “the territory/region belonging to the tribes of Ephraim and West Manasseh.” The tribe of Zebulun lived in the region of Galilee, which was north of the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh. For this reason Good News Translation adds the word “north.”

But they laughed them to scorn and mocked them: These two clauses are synonymous, and in some cases they may have to be translated by a single verbal expression. But where synonyms exist, they should be used since the cumulative effect is important. The referents for the pronouns they and them should be clear in a translation. It was the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and other northern tribes who laughed at Hezekiah’s messengers. New Jerusalem Bible says “but the people laughed and scoffed at them.” New Living Translation provides a helpful model here, saying “But most of the people just laughed at the messengers and made fun of them.” Compare also “Upon hearing this message, most of the people laughed and made fun of the messengers” (La Biblia: Traducción en Lenguaje Actual).

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 .