So: The common Hebrew conjunction here shows a kind of logical relationship. As a result of the actions of Elisha, the water is said to have remained pure up to the time of the writing of 2 Kings. The original readers would probably have seen a parallel between what Elisha did and the incident long ago when Moses sweetened the waters of Marah (Exo 15.23-25).

The water has been wholesome: As in the previous verse, a more literal rendering would be “the waters have been healed.” Translators should seek the most natural way of expressing this purification in their own language.

To this day; that is, the time when this text was written. See the comments at 1 Kgs 8.8.

According to the word which Elisha spoke: The point of this statement is that what happened was precisely what Elisha said would happen at the end of the previous verse. The New American Bible rendering, “just as Elisha prophesied,” probably goes a bit too far since it introduces the element of prophecy, which is not really in the text.

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 .