¹tn Heb “the sons of the prophets.”
²tn Heb “sit before you.”
³tn Heb “narrow, tight.”
⁴tn Heb “iron.”
⁵tn Or “ah.”
⁶tn Heb “man of God” (also in v. 9).
⁷tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁸tc The verb form used here is difficult to analyze. On the basis of the form <yT!j!n+ (n^ekhitim) in v. 9 from the root tj^n` (nakhat), it is probably best to emend the verb to Wtj=n+T! (tinkh<sup>e</sup>tu; a Qal imperfect form from the same root). The verb tj^n` in at least two other instances carries the nuance “go down, descend” in a military context. For a defense of this view, see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 72.
⁹sn The advisers would have mentioned a specific location, but the details are not significant to the narrator’s purpose, so he simply paraphrases here.
¹⁰tn The vav + perfect here indicates action contemporary with the preceding main verb (“sent”). See IBHS 533-34 §32.2.3e.
¹¹tn Heb “and the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God spoke to him, and he warned it and he guarded himself there, not once and not twice.”
¹²tn Heb “and the heart of the king of Syria was stirred up over this thing.”
¹³tn Heb “servants.”
¹⁴tn Heb “Will you not tell me who among us [is] for the king of Israel?” The sarcastic rhetorical question expresses the king’s suspicion.
¹⁵tn Heb “he” (also a second time in this verse); the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹⁶tn Heb “Go and see where he [is] so I can send and take him.”
¹⁷tn Heb “heavy force.”
¹⁸tn Heb “man of God’s.”
¹⁹tn Heb “his young servant said to him.”
²⁰tn Heb “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
²¹tn Heb “and he saw, and look.”
²²tn Heb “and they came down to him.”
²³tn Or “this nation,” perhaps emphasizing the strength of the Syrian army.
²⁴tn On the basis of the Akkadian etymology of the word, M. Cogan and H. Tadmor (II Kings [AB], 74) translate “blinding light.” HALOT 761 s.v. <yr]w}n+s^ suggests the glosses “dazzling, deception.”
²⁵tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
²⁶tn Heb “according to the word of Elisha.”
²⁷map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.
²⁸tn Heb “and they saw, and look, [they were] in the middle of Samaria.”
²⁹tn Heb “Should I strike them down? I will strike them down.” In the Hebrew text the first person imperfect form is repeated; the first form has the interrogative he prefixed to it; the second does not. It is likely that the second form should be omitted as dittographic or that the first should be emended to an infinitive absolute.
³⁰tn Heb “my father.” The king addresses the prophet in this way to indicate his respect. See 2 Kgs 2:12.
³¹tn Heb “Are [they] ones you captured with your sword or your bow (that) you can strike (them) down?”
³²tn Or “held a great feast.”
³³tn Heb “they went back.”
³⁴tn Heb “went up.”
³⁵map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.
³⁶tn Heb “and there was a great famine in Samaria.”
³⁷tn Heb “and look, [they] were besieging it until.”
³⁸tn Heb “eighty, silver.” The unit of measurement is omitted.
³⁹sn A kab was a unit of dry measure, equivalent to approximately one quart.
⁴⁰tn The consonantal text (Kethib) reads, “dove manure” (<yn]oyyr@j&, khareyonim), while the marginal reading (Qere) has “discharge” (<yn]oyb=D], divyonim). Based on evidence from Akkadian, M. Cogan and H. Tadmor (II Kings [AB], 79) suggest that “dove’s manure” was a popular name for the inedible husks of seeds.
⁴¹tn Heb “five, silver.” The unit of measurement is omitted.
⁴²tn Heb “From where can I help you, from the threshing floor or the winepress?” The rhetorical question expresses the king’s frustration. He has no grain or wine to give to the masses.
⁴³tn Heb “the people saw, and look, [there was] sackcloth against his skin underneath.”
⁴⁴tn Heb “So may God do to me, and so may he add.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat stays on him today.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “and the elders were sitting with him.”
⁴⁷tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁴⁸tn Heb “sent a man from before him, before the messenger came to him.”
⁴⁹tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁵⁰tn Heb “elders.”
⁵¹tn Heb “Do you see that this son of an assassin has sent to remove my head?”
⁵²tn Heb “Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”
⁵³tn The Hebrew text also has “look” here.
⁵⁴tn Heb “came down to him.”
⁵⁵tn Heb “Look, this is a disaster from the Lord.”