All the elders and all the people said to him: All the people may be rendered “all the people of the city” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) since the context limits the people to those living within the besieged city. A different understanding of the Hebrew noun for people is also possible. In some contexts this noun clearly refers to the military troops. Such a meaning is possible here also, but none of the translations consulted gives it that specific meaning here.

Good News Translation omits the adjective all, which occurs in the Hebrew text with both the elders and the people, but this omission slightly changes the emphasis of the Hebrew. The word all should be translated.

Do not heed or consent: Before each of the verbs heed and consent there is a Hebrew negative. The negative preceding the second verb is slightly more forceful than the first negative, but most translations do not indicate this. Walsh, however, shows the difference in the Hebrew with the following translation: “Do not listen; above all do not consent.”

In certain languages it may be more natural in this context to translate using indirect speech rather than a direct quotation. In such cases it may be possible to say:

• But all the leaders and the rest of the people told him not to give attention to King Benhadad and not to agree to his demands.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .