Amaziah would not listen: In some languages it will be better to say “Amaziah did not do as he [Jehoash] had said”; that is, he continued to try to conquer other areas rather than remaining within his own territory.

So: While the text has only the common Hebrew conjunction here, the context seems to require a transition word showing that the action of King Jehoash came as a result of the fact that Amaziah refused to heed his advice.

Went up: Here it is unnecessary to focus on the idea of movement in an upward direction. This verb is adequately translated “marched out” (Good News Translation), “advanced” (New American Bible), or simply “went.”

Faced one another in battle is literally “saw each other’s faces.” This is the same expression as in verse 8. Here it may be rendered “met in battle” (New American Bible) or “clashed” (Revised English Bible).

For the town of Beth-shemesh, see the comments on 1 Kgs 4.9.

Which belongs to Judah; that is, which was in the territory of the southern kingdom and under its rule. This specification seems to have been necessary because Beth Shemesh was near the border between Israel and Judah.

The context makes it clear that Amaziah and Jehoash did not go alone to battle. Rather, they both went with their armies. This may be made explicit in translation, as New Living Translation has done by rendering the whole verse as follows:

• But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .