The LORD was speaking through Elisha in verse 17, but now Elisha continues to speak his own words, as Good News Translation and Bible en français courant make clear.

This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD: The demonstrative pronoun This refers to the action of providing water. But, as the verse goes on to demonstrate, God would do much more than simply meet the need for water of the three kings and their entourage. Some other ways of expressing this clause might be “This is not a difficult thing for the LORD to do” and “This is something the LORD can do easily.” Contemporary English Version provides another possible model with “That simple thing isn’t all the LORD is going to do.”

He will also give the Moabites into your hand: Translators should ensure that the plural pronoun your is retained here since the prophet is speaking to the three kings and not just to Joram. As in previous verses, the word hand refers to power. Some may prefer to say “he will also give the Moabites over to your control” or “… cause the Moabites to submit to your power.” Verses 26-27 state that the Israelite victory was in fact incomplete. Historical records show that Israel never did reconquer Moab.

New American Bible rewords the whole verse as follows:

• And since the LORD does not consider this enough, he will also deliver Moab into your grasp.

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 .