OET interlinear 2 KI 23:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

אַ֗ךְ לֹ֤א יַֽעֲלוּ֙ כֹּהֲנֵ֣י הַ⁠בָּמ֔וֹת אֶל־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כִּ֛י אִם־אָכְל֥וּ מַצּ֖וֹת בְּ⁠ת֥וֹךְ אֲחֵי⁠הֶֽם

however not come_up (Some words not found in UHB: however not come_up priests_of of,the_high_places to/towards altar_of YHWH in,Jerusalem that/for/because/then/when if ate unleavened_bread in_the=middle brothers_of,their )

The author is providing background information about the priests he described in the previous verse. In your translation, introduce this information in a way that would be natural in your own language and culture.

Note 2 topic: translate-symaction

לֹ֤א יַֽעֲלוּ֙ כֹּהֲנֵ֣י הַ⁠בָּמ֔וֹת אֶל־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם

not come_up (Some words not found in UHB: however not come_up priests_of of,the_high_places to/towards altar_of YHWH in,Jerusalem that/for/because/then/when if ate unleavened_bread in_the=middle brothers_of,their )

Not allowing the priests who had previously served at the high places was a symbolic action by which Josiah kept any trace of false worship away from the Jerusalem temple. These priests were descendants of Aaron who had been burning incense to Yahweh, but they had been doing so at unauthorized locations. This worship was therefore impure, and those who had led the people in it had to be kept away from Yahweh’s altar. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action in the text of your translation or in a footnote.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לֹ֤א יַֽעֲלוּ֙ & אֶל־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה

not come_up & to/towards (Some words not found in UHB: however not come_up priests_of of,the_high_places to/towards altar_of YHWH in,Jerusalem that/for/because/then/when if ate unleavened_bread in_the=middle brothers_of,their )

The author is using go up to the altar as a common expression of his culture to mean “offer sacrifices on the altar.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [serve at the altar of Yahweh] or [offer sacrifices on the altar of Yahweh]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

כִּ֛י אִם־אָכְל֥וּ מַצּ֖וֹת

(Some words not found in UHB: however not come_up priests_of of,the_high_places to/towards altar_of YHWH in,Jerusalem that/for/because/then/when if ate unleavened_bread in_the=middle brothers_of,their )

The author is using one kind of food that the priests received as their share of sacrifices, the unleavened bread that they made from grain offerings, to mean all of the food that the priests received from sacrifices for their support. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [However, they were allowed to live off the food from the priests’ share of the sacrifices]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠ת֥וֹךְ אֲחֵי⁠הֶֽם

(Some words not found in UHB: however not come_up priests_of of,the_high_places to/towards altar_of YHWH in,Jerusalem that/for/because/then/when if ate unleavened_bread in_the=middle brothers_of,their )

The author is speaking as if the other priests were actually the brothers of these priests who had been serving at hilltop shrines. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [together with their fellow priests]