Go through the land: The second person singular verb Go translates the Masoretic Text. Some translations, following the Septuagint, read “Let us go” (so Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Anchor Bible, Osty-Trinquet). As Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament shows, however, the second person singular in the Masoretic Text makes sense. In this verse Ahab charges Obadiah to go search for grass, and verse 6 indicates that Ahab himself has decided to make a similar search. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. So it will be better to translate this verb as a direct command to Obadiah by saying “You, go through the land.” The Hebrew word rendered land probably refers in this context to the area surrounding the city of Samaria. But it is best for translators to retain a rather general term in the receptor language.
Springs of water is a literal rendering. This will be redundant in some languages because the word springs clearly implies water. So translators should look for the most natural equivalent here rather than seeking to imitate Revised Standard Version. Good News Translation says simply “spring.”
Valleys translates a Hebrew noun that often refers to a river valley that has water flowing in it only during the winter months (see 1 Kgs 17.3, where Revised Standard Version renders it “brook”). Translations such as “wadi[s]” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Anchor Bible), “stream bed” (Good News Translation), and “streams” (New American Bible) express the meaning better in English than does valleys.
Perhaps we may find grass …: The Hebrew particle translated perhaps introduces a possible result of the proposed course of action. The result is not certain but only a possibility. In some languages it may have to be translated by a verbal expression like “it may happen that” or something similar.
The first person plural pronoun we in Ahab’s words to Obadiah should be taken as inclusive and so translated.
Mules: See the comments on 1 Kgs 1.33.
Not lose some of the animals: Lose translates the same Hebrew verb that is rendered “cut off” in verse 4. While the Revised Standard Version rendering is possible, the use of the same verb may be maintained in some languages by saying “killing off the prophets” and “kill off our animals.” New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible use the verb “slaughter” here in verse 5. The irony is that while Jezebel was killing the prophets of God, Ahab was worried that he might have to kill some of his animals.
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 .