Now therefore is literally “And now.” While the logical connector therefore may be implied, it is certainly not required by the Hebrew text.

Send and gather: The first of these two verbs probably implies the sending out of a message to accomplish the action described by the second verb. Several modern versions ignore the first verb, while others translate the two verbs by a single verb like “summon” (Revised English Bible, New International Version) or “have … assemble” (New Revised Standard Version). Some may, however, prefer to say “send a message to gather.”

All Israel may refer only to all the leaders of families and clans, but it is better not to be more specific here than the Hebrew itself. Israel here refers to the northern kingdom.

Mount Carmel rises more than 150 meters (over 500 feet) above sea level and protrudes into the Mediterranean Sea. It is near the modern-day city of Haifa on the Mediterranean coast. Mount Carmel is actually a mountain range that runs for about 21 kilometers (13 miles) from the northwest to the southeast. At its highest point this mountain range reaches over 500 meters (about 1,750 feet) near its southeastern end.

The four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah: See the comments on 1 Kgs 4.22 about writing numbers. For Asherah see 1 Kgs 14.15.

Who eat at Jezebel’s table probably does not mean that they actually ate at the same table where Jezebel usually ate, but rather that she provided for them from the royal court (see the comments on 1 Kgs 2.7, where David tells Solomon to let the sons of Barzillai eat at his table). Those “eating at Jezebel’s table” include both the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah. Revised English Bible translates “who are attached to Jezebel’s household.”

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 .