Behold focuses the reader’s attention on the statement that follows. As indicated in the discussion on the previous verse, what the prophet says here is closely related to the previous statement about Ahab’s commitment to evil. For this reason this verse should begin with a transition word like “Therefore” or the two verses should otherwise be connected structurally to show this relationship. For example, New Jerusalem Bible translates the last half of verse 20 and the beginning of verse 21 in the following way: “For your double dealing, and since you have done what is displeasing to Yahweh, 21 I shall now bring disaster….”
I will bring evil upon you: See the comments on 1 Kgs 14.10. Elijah was speaking at the end of verse 20. In order to show that it is God who will bring disaster upon Ahab, and not the prophet Elijah who will do so, Good News Translation reminds the reader of this by inserting the words “the LORD says to you.”
I will utterly sweep you away: See the comments on the same Hebrew verb used here in 1 Kgs 14.10 (where Revised Standard Version has “will utterly consume”) and 16.3.
Will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel: For cut off, see the comments on 1 Kgs 11.15-16. The LORD uses the words from Ahab, but he is speaking directly to Ahab. For this reason most languages will transform this into a second person reference, saying something like “I will kill you and every male in your family…” (New Century Version).
Every male is literally “anyone urinating against a wall” (see the comments on 1 Kgs 14.10).
Regarding the words rendered bond or free, it will be noted that Good News Translation takes this to mean “young and old alike.” But see the comments on 1 Kgs 14.10.
New Century Version translates the entire warning in this verse as follows: “I will soon destroy you. I will kill you and every male in your family, both slave and free.”
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 .