But: Since the common Hebrew conjunction here begins a negative clause, it may have the force of a contrasting conjunction as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

Would not listen: Even though the Hebrew verb used here is literally listen, it includes the meaning “obey” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Were stubborn is literally “stiffened their necks.” New International Version surprisingly has an almost literal rendering with “were … stiff-necked.” But such a rendering should be avoided if it is unnatural. If the receptor language has a common idiom for stubbornness, it could be used here. Certain languages say something like “were hard-headed” or “were like a donkey.”

As their fathers had been is literally “like the neck of their fathers.” But if the previous idiom is not translated literally, this one should certainly be rendered more dynamically as well. Some translations, following the Septuagint, say “more … than their ancestors had been” (Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet) rather than “as … their fathers had been.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to “like…” rather than “more than….” So translators are advised to translate “like their ancestors….”

Who did not believe in the LORD their God: All the ancestors of Israel are in view here. This clause does not mean that they were atheists in the modern sense of the word as the text might lead some readers to believe. They no doubt believed in the existence of God. But they did not exercise faith in God on a regular basis. Some other models are “who did not have faith in the LORD their God” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “for they refused to put their trust in…” (Revised English Bible).

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 .