The transition word Now renders the common Hebrew conjunction and may be omitted in translation if it is more natural to do so. In some cases the introduction of a new paragraph is a sufficient representation of this transition.
Moab: The Moabites, who lived on the fertile plateau extending east of the Dead Sea (see the comments on 1 Kgs 11.1; 2 Kgs 1.1), were distantly related to the Israelites. According to Gen 19.37, they were descended from the offspring of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. At different times in the history of Israel they were subject to the Israelites or at war with them. The story that follows represents a movement from a state of submission to a state of war.
The term sheep breeder, which is followed by New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible and American Bible, is probably too limited for the meaning of the Hebrew word here. In Amos 1.1 the same Hebrew word is rendered “shepherd.” But as applied to the king of Moab, it almost certainly refers to the whole activity of breeding, raising, tending and dealing in sheep. In some languages the most natural way of expressing the meaning might be to say that Mesha was “the owner of [many] sheep.” The context shows clearly that his flocks were quite numerous. Some scholars suggest that the Hebrew word translated sheep breeder is related to an Akkadian verb that means “to probe,” especially to probe animal livers in augury (a kind of fortune-telling using parts of dead animals, which is forbidden in Lev 19.26), but few accept this interpretation.
He had to deliver: The basic meaning of the Hebrew verb used here is “to return.” But the verb form is causative, so a more literal rendering might be “he caused to return.” This shows that the delivery of the lambs and wool was an obligation and explains why some translations speak of “tribute” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, American Bible) and others use verb forms like “had to supply” (Revised English Bible), “was forced to pay taxes” (Contemporary English Version), and “was responsible for sending” (Hobbs).
Annually is not found in the traditional Hebrew text. It comes from the Targum (ancient Aramaic translation), which literally reads “year by year.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. If the Masoretic Text is followed, it is not certain that the king of Moab paid the amount mentioned here more than once. Some interpreters have suggested that Mesha paid this amount once only, when he became a vassal king subject to the king of Israel. Other interpreters have suggested that this huge amount of tribute was the sum total that Mesha paid during the reign of Ahab. The Septuagint adds “in the insurrection/rebellion”; that is, the reading in the Septuagint suggests that the king paid this amount only once as a punishment for having rebelled against Israel after Ahab died (2 Kgs 1.1).
Nevertheless, the verb form used in Hebrew for had to deliver may be understood as suggesting something that was done “regularly” (Revised English Bible), and it is perhaps for this reason that the Targum added the words “year by year.” Possibly the rendering “every year” found in translations like Good News Translation and Bible en français courant is based on the Masoretic Text and follows the translation principle of making implicit information explicit rather than on textual considerations. Similarly, translations such as “used to pay” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) and “used to deliver” (New Revised Standard Version) are based on the Hebrew text but understand the verb as expressing what regularly happened. This interpretation seems to fit the context well.
A hundred thousand lambs, and the wool of a hundred thousand rams: It is possible that the meaning here is “the wool of 100,000 sheep and of 100,000 rams,” as indicated in the footnote of New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. Revised English Bible seems to put this meaning in the text. But the meaning in Revised Standard Version is more likely. It is unclear why Good News Translation has “sheep” instead of rams. The Hebrew word here is the more specific word normally used for male sheep (rams). Wool refers to the soft wavy undercoat of hairy animals such as sheep. It is used in the Middle East to weave a fabric from which clothing is made. In some languages it has to be translated “hair of sheep.”
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 .