Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead: Now when translates the common Hebrew conjunction, but the context seems to require something more precise. Revised English Bible, like Good News Translation, begins the chapter with the words “As soon as….” Most other modern versions simply begin with “When…” (New International Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

For Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab and the granddaughter of King Omri, see the comments on 2 Kgs 8.18 and 26.

At the beginning of this new chapter and new section, it may be helpful to remind the reader that Ahaziah was a king, or more specifically the king of Judah. Compare “When Athaliah learned that her son Ahaziah, king of Judah, was dead” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

While Revised Standard Version accurately reflects the form of the original text with the verb saw, this verb is not necessarily to be taken literally. New Jerusalem Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, like Good News Translation, use the verb “learned.” Ahaziah, who was Athaliah’s son, was killed by Jehu’s soldiers near Megiddo as he was trying to escape. His body was then transported to Jerusalem to be buried (2 Kgs 9.27-28). It is unlikely that Athaliah waited to actually see the body of her son before beginning to kill any remaining members of the royal family.

She arose and destroyed all the royal family: As in 2 Kgs 10.12, the verb arose is used to introduce the course of action indicated by the second verb in the series. The same double verb construction is used in 2 Kgs 1.3; 4.30 and 8.1-2. Together with the second verb in this context, it is legitimate to translate “she set out to destroy…” (Revised English Bible, American Bible) or “she began to kill off…” (New American Bible).

It is virtually certain that it was not Athaliah acting alone who destroyed (or, “killed”) all these people. For this reason some languages will use a causative form of the verb here, such as “caused to die” or “had … killed.”

All the royal family is literally “all the seed of the kingdom.” The Hebrew noun for “seed” is frequently used in the figurative sense to mean “offspring” (compare “the royal house” in 1 Kgs 11.14). Here this would have included the children of Ahaziah. New Jerusalem Bible has “all those of royal stock,” and American Bible says “all the royal line.” This might be rendered in some languages as “all the people who were in line to become king” or “all the members of the family of Ahaziah.” Contemporary English Version has “any relative who could possibly become king.”

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 .