Therefore renders the common Hebrew conjunction as a logical connector, which is appropriate in this context. Other versions use the similar connector “So” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, New Century Version, God’s Word). But New International Version and Revised English Bible omit the conjunction here.
He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans: The pronoun he refers to the LORD, which Good News Translation and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente make explicit. Brought up against them may be rendered “caused … to attack them” or “made … to fight against them.” The Chaldeans lived in southern Babylonia on the Persian Gulf. Under the rule of Nabopolassar, they captured the city of Babylon in 622 B.C. The term Chaldea then became a synonym for “Babylonia” (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Living Translation, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).
Who slew their young men with the sword …: In the Hebrew text the verbs rendered brought up, slew, had … compassion, and gave seem to have the same subject. Who slew is literally “and he slew.” Since God is the subject of the first verb and the last verb, some interpreters think that God is also the subject of the verbs slew and had … compassion. Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other versions make the Babylonian king the subject of the middle verbs. But New Jerusalem Bible seems to have God as the subject of all four verbs. Of course, it was the Babylonian soldiers (so Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) and not strictly speaking the Babylonian king (so Good News Translation) who killed the young men of Judah, but the writer seems to say that they were simply carrying out God’s will. The verb slew is somewhat archaic, so New Revised Standard Version and most other modern versions say “killed.” The Hebrew word translated young men is the plural of the same word rendered young man in this verse. Some interpreters think that the meaning of the Hebrew word should be understood to mean “elite” in light of a cognate noun in the Mari writings, which refers to elite or select soldiers. This understanding is the basis for the La Bible Pléiade rendering “elite men.” But most interpreters do not find this nuance in the Hebrew term. For the phrase with the sword, see the comments on 2 Chr 21.4.
The house of their sanctuary may be rendered simply “the Temple” (Good News Translation). See the comments on 1 Chr 22.19.
And had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged: For the Hebrew verb rendered had … compassion, see the comments on verse 15. The Hebrew word translated virgin is rendered “young woman” in New Revised Standard Version. In this context it refers to any young woman and stands in opposition to young man. The point of the list here is to include all people of whatever age or sex. It also includes people who may be in poor health or in good health. The Hebrew term for aged refers to the weakness that comes with old age. For this reason Revised English Bible translates old man or aged as “neither the old nor the weak.” Some other renderings are “the aged or the feeble” (New Revised Standard Version) and “the old people or the sick people” (God’s Word).
He gave them all into his hand: The pronoun he refers to God and the pronoun his refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia. In some languages one or both of these pronouns will have to be translated by a noun; for example, New International Version and New Century Version say “God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar,” Revised English Bible has “God gave them all into his power,” and Contemporary English Version translates “God let him kill everyone in the city.” This took place just as Jeremiah had prophesied (see Jer 21.1-10; 34.1-5; see also Ezek 12.12-14). The word hand is used here as an image for power.
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 .