Good News Translation mentions Josiah by name instead of referring to him as the king. In some languages the most natural equivalent may include both the name and the title: “King Josiah.” Naturalness in the receptor language and clarity of understanding should determine what kind of reference is used here.

Regarding Hilkiah, the high priest, see the comments on 2 Kgs 22.4.

The priests of the second order: This is the only occurrence of this expression in the Bible. It is generally taken to mean “the assistants to the priests” (similarly Good News Translation), “the deputy priests” (American Bible), or “the priests next in rank” (New International Version). However, several modern versions, in agreement with the ancient Aramaic translation of this verse, take this as reference to a single individual by saying “the deputy high priest” (Revised English Bible), “his vicar” (New American Bible), or “the priest next in rank” (New Jerusalem Bible; similarly Osty-Trinquet). In 2 Kgs 25.18 the text speaks of a named individual as “the second priest,” and this has led some interpreters to suspect that the singular is intended here (so Gray, who translates “the second priest”). The role of this second priest is apparently described in some detail in Jer 29.24-29. But the plural form of the text in this verse seems indisputable, and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the plural reading in the Masoretic Text.

The keepers of the threshold: See the comments at 2 Kgs 22.4.

All the vessels: The Hebrew term translated vessels is a very general one, and in this context it refers to any of the utensils that had been made for the worship of other gods and stored in the Temple (see the comments on 1 Kgs 7.51). The whole phrase here is translated in a number of modern English versions as “all the objects” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, New American Bible). New International Version translates “all the articles,” while New Century Version speaks even more generally of “everything.”

For Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven: These other gods have already been mentioned earlier in the books of 1–2 Kings. Baal is mentioned in 1 Kgs 16.31 and 2 Kgs 3.2; and reference is made to Asherah at 1 Kgs 15.13 and 2 Kgs 13.6. Regarding the host of heaven, translators may wish to refer to 2 Kgs 17.16. King Manasseh was responsible for the presence of these pagan idols within the Temple (see 2 Kgs 21.3; 2 Chr 33.3).

The fields of the Kidron: The Hebrew word translated fields is a rare term that has also been rendered “open country” (New Century Version, New English Bible, Hobbs), “terraces” (American Bible, New Living Translation), and “slope[s]” (New American Bible, Revised English Bible). Some scholars have also suggested changing the text slightly so that it would yield the meaning “death fields” or “fires.” But it seems best not to alter the text but rather to understand the Hebrew as referring to a particular kind of land cultivation such as terraces. Regarding the Kidron Brook, see 1 Kgs 2.37. The burning of the pagan objects of worship in this location would be convenient since it was just below the Temple area to the east of Jerusalem.

Carried their ashes to Bethel: If a literal translation of the verb carried gives the impression that the king himself did the work of transporting the ashes, then it will be better to translate the idea as in New Jerusalem Bible, which says “had the ashes taken to Bethel.” The city of Bethel was probably chosen as a place to deposit the ashes of the pagan objects of worship because it was already considered defiled. It was at Bethel that Jeroboam had set up an idol and from there idolatry spread throughout the rest of the land (1 Kgs 12–13). Josiah would later destroy the pagan altar there (verse 15).

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 .