This verse begins in Hebrew with the verbal transition that is sometimes rendered “And it will happen.”

Him who escapes: The pronoun him is to be understood in the sense of “any person,” “anyone,” or “whoever.” The Hebrew verb rendered escapes is actually a passive form of a verb meaning “save” or “deliver.” But the meaning is adequately translated by the verb “escape” in English. Others may use an expression like “avoids death” or “flees death.”

The sword of Hazael: See Elisha’s words to Hazael in 2 Kgs 8.12. For the use of sword here, see the comments on 1 Kgs 2.8.

Him who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay: There is no record in the Old Testament of Elisha killing people who escaped death from Jehu.

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 .