What is left unstated in this verse is that the bodies of those people who die, regardless of where they die, will be left unburied. Not to have a proper burial was considered a punishment, or at the least, a serious misfortune. This same prophecy is made concerning Baasha in 1 Kgs 16.4 and Ahab in 1 Kgs 21.24.
Any one belonging to Jeroboam is a fairly literal rendering of the Hebrew. The reference is not, of course, to slaves (see verse 10), as the wording in Revised Standard Version might suggest, but rather to any member of Jeroboam’s family. As in the previous verse, since Yahweh is speaking directly to Jeroboam, in many languages it will be more natural to use the personal pronoun “you” rather than the king’s name. Some possible renderings are “your relatives” (Contemporary English Version) and “Anyone from your family” (New Century Version).
Who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and any one who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat: This whole statement or part of it is a favorite expression of the writer of 1–2 Kings (also 1 Kgs 16.4; 21.23-24; 2 Kgs 9.10, 36) to describe the fate of evildoers. It implies the absence of a proper burial. To remain unburied and become food for animals was the height of indignity and often taken as a sign of judgment and divine disapproval. If this is not understood in the receptor language, an explanatory footnote would be appropriate.
There is a contrast in this verse between in the city and in the open country. In the city does not refer to any particular city, but rather to any city or town where large numbers of people live close together.
Birds of the air: The reference is specifically to “birds of prey” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) or “vultures” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). It is probably unnecessary in most languages to imitate the Hebrew here by including the words of the air since it will be understood that birds fly in the air. Revised English Bible, for example, says simply “birds.”
The LORD has spoken it: Since verse 11 is part of the words of God, Good News Translation changes the third person reference to the LORD to first person. However, since this clause may be taken as an expression to indicate the end of the words of the LORD, it may be advisable to end the direct quotation of the LORD prior to this clause and retain the third person.
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 .