And the men of the nation took Jeconiah the son of Josiah, who was twenty-three years old, and made him king in succession to Josiah his father: At the beginning of this section the conjunction And may be omitted (so Good News Bible) or rendered “After the death of Josiah” (Contemporary English Version). The men of the nation is literally “those of the nation,” which Good News Bible renders “The people of Judah.” In this context we prefer “The men of Judah.” The verb took does not imply that the men seized Jeconiah, or removed him from one place to another. It only means that they selected him. The idea of “choosing” needs to be used here, since we learn in verse 39 that Jeconiah had an older brother, who under ordinary circumstances would have followed his father on the throne. Good News Bible has chosen to use the name “Joahaz,” which is another name of Jeconiah. “Joahaz” is a shortened form of the name “Jehoahaz,” which is used in 2 Kgs 23.30-31 and 2 Chr 36.1-2. In 1 Chr 3.15 and Jer 22.11 Jeconiah is called “Shallum,” and in verse 38 below he seems to be called “Zarius.” Some Greek manuscripts of this verse give the name “Joahaz” or “Jehoahaz.” We recommend using the name Jeconiah here, although translators may certainly follow Good News Bible if they wish (compare Matt 1.11|prj:GNT92.MAT.1.11).

An alternative model for this verse is:

• The men of Judah chose Josiah’s son Jeconiah to follow his father as king. When they made him king, he was twenty-three years old.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.