He said: For clarity Good News Translation has “Elisha said to her.” This is the first time that Elisha addresses the wealthy woman of Shunem directly in the text. In those languages that have both familiar and formal ways of speaking, the familiar form should probably be used on both sides of the conversation because of the woman’s high rank in her society and because of the lengthy and close relationship between her and the prophet. (For a discussion of this issue in general, see the article by Ronald Ross, entitled “Marking Interpersonal Relationships in the ‘Today’s Spanish Version.’ ”)
At this season, when the time comes round: Elisha promises the woman of Shunem that she would have a child within about a year. Compare Gen 17.21 and 18.10, where Sarah is similarly promised a child within a year’s time. It will be quite natural in many languages to say something like “About this time next year” (New International Version, New Century Version). The exact meaning of the Hebrew here is not certain. It is literally “At this season according to the time of life.” Most take it to mean “By this time next year” as in Good News Translation, but some understand it to mean “at the time of reviving,” that is, in the spring time. Others change the Hebrew vowels so that the words read “according to the time of gestation/pregnancy,” that is, the time required to give birth (so Gray).
You shall embrace a son: The Hebrew verb used here indicates an affectionate kind of holding. Elsewhere in the Old Testament it is used of brothers (Gen 33.4), an uncle and his nephew (Gen 29.13), and a man and his grandchildren (Gen 48.10). Since the one to be held in this way will be a small baby, some languages may have special words for this kind of embrace. While the text does not say so directly, the clear meaning is that the son in question would be her very own; that is, that she would have given birth to the son she would be holding. In verse 20 the woman does indeed embrace her son!
Addressing the prophet as my lord is, once again, a way of showing great respect for him (see the comments on 2 Kgs 2.19). Similarly, the woman’s referring to herself as your maidservant is also an indication of respect. Translators should look for ways of showing the same degree of respect without trying to imitate the form of the Hebrew when this would be unnatural. In most cases the indirect self-reference (your maidservant) will be replaced by a first person singular pronoun; and “sir,” or something similar, will replace my lord.
O man of God: These words are lacking in an important manuscript of the Septuagint, and some scholars think that they were not present in the original Hebrew. For this reason they are omitted by some modern versions (New Jerusalem Bible, Gray). But since these words are a part of the traditional Hebrew text, they should be included in translation unless they have to be left implicit for translation reasons. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text.
Do not lie: New Revised Standard Version changes the verb to “deceive” (also American Bible). La Bible du Semeur says “don’t get my hopes up.” The basic sense is that the woman wants Elisha to be honest with her.
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 .