So: The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse may be understood as providing a logical transition. As a direct result of the LORD’s command, the prophet did as he had been instructed. In some languages a transition word like “therefore” will be appropriate.
He arose and went to Zarephath: See the comments on verse 9. Anchor Bible expresses well the sense of the Hebrew as “he set right out for Zarephath.”
The gate of the city: In the biblical period, many cities were surrounded by walls with gates as protection against enemies. The city gate was a common meeting place for people coming into the city and going out of it (see the comments on 1 Kgs 16.34).
Behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: The Hebrew words translated here are more vivid than the Revised Standard Version rendering shows. It is as if the reader is there with Elijah. The force is more precisely shown in a translation such as “Look, a widow is there gathering sticks.”
Sticks translates a Hebrew noun that may mean “trees” or “sticks,” depending on the context. Verse 12 indicates that the widow is gathering this wood to build a fire, and for this reason Good News Translation uses the word “firewood,” while New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has simply “wood.”
He called to her and said: Good News Translation simply translates “he said to her,” but this expression should be rendered a bit stronger here. Good News Translation has “he called out” in the next verse for the same expression. Probably both occurrences should be rendered in such a way as to indicate speaking over some distance.
Bring me a little water in a vessel: Revised Standard Version does not indicate that the Hebrew includes a particle of entreaty. Good News Translation attempts to show the force of the Hebrew by saying “Please bring me…” (also New American Bible, Anchor Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). In some languages something like “Would you bring me…” will be an adequate translation of the Hebrew. See the similar request in the following verse.
See the discussion of the Hebrew noun rendered vessel in 1 Kgs 7.51. In this context the word may be translated “jar” (New International Version), “pitcher” (New Jerusalem Bible), or simply “container.”
In languages where indirect discourse is preferred, the meaning of the quotation at the end of this verse may be expressed as follows: “and he asked her to bring him a drink of water” or “and he requested a drink of water from her.”
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 .