Revised Standard Version begins with the connector For, which seems to suggest that this verse is a further explanation of the previous verses, but Good News Translation makes it clear that this verse is “In addition” to the earlier statement. The Hebrew conjunction here has a wide variety of uses, including causal (because), temporal (when), conditional (if), concessive (even though), and adversative (but). Most translations understand the conjunction as expressing the cause or reason that the people depended on the Levites to kill the lambs for them. The Good News Translation rendering seems to suggest that the unclean people mentioned in verse 17 must have been from the south. Translators may follow either understanding of the Hebrew conjunction here.

A multitude of people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves: This part of the verse may be expressed in more modern English as “The greater part of the people, in fact, chiefly from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves” (New American Bible) or “most of the people—many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun—had not purified themselves” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). New Century Version has “many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves for the feast.” This rendering ignores the fact that the writer seems to be speaking of the majority of the Israelite people in general before specifying that they were mainly from the northern tribes mentioned.

Yet they ate the passover: The connector yet renders the same Hebrew conjunction translated For at the beginning of this verse, but here the context calls for some kind of contrast since the expected behavior would be for people who were not properly purified not to participate in the Passover meal. Other translations here include “Nevertheless” (New American Bible) and “but” (Contemporary English Version).

Otherwise than as prescribed: They ate the Passover meal in a manner that was not according to what was written in the Law of Moses. NET Bible says “in violation of what is prescribed in the law.” See the comments on 2Chr 30.5.

For Hezekiah had prayed for them: For renders the same Hebrew conjunction as the one beginning this verse. Here it is better translated “So” (New Century Version). Since many of the people had not followed the regulations of the Law regarding purification before they ate the Passover meal, King Hezekiah prayed for God to forgive them. While the prayer of Hezekiah begins at the end of this verse in Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation opens the quotation at the beginning of the next verse. This seems to be an error on the part of Good News Translation and should not be imitated in other translations.

The good LORD pardon every one: It is unusual for the Hebrew to use an adjective to modify the name of Yahweh. This clause may be expressed as “May Yahweh in his goodness pardon…” (New Jerusalem Bible). In some languages it may be necessary to address God directly, saying “LORD, you are good. So I beg you to forgive….”

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 .