Under a broom tree is literally “under one broom tree.” By adding the definite article “the,” Good News Translation understands this to be the same tree as the one mentioned in verse 4 (also New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible). But the Hebrew does not directly say that it was the same bush, and the rendering “under a broom bush” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) seems to be a better English translation of the Hebrew. Some languages may have to say “under another broom tree.” In Hebrew the adjective for “one” in verse 4 is feminine, but here in verse 5 the same adjective is masculine. The reason for this difference is not clear, but the change does not necessarily mean that two different trees are intended.

And behold, an angel touched him: The Hebrew word rendered behold often draws attention to what follows, but sometimes, as here, it introduces a new, unexpected event. It is translated as “Suddenly” in Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, while New Jerusalem Bible says “Then all of a sudden.” An angel is literally “this angel.” The Hebrew construction is more forceful than the Revised Standard Version rendering. The Hebrew noun for angel is the same as the one translated “messenger” in verse 2, and some translations say “messenger” here also (Nouvelle Bible Segond; see the comments at 1 Kgs 13.18). The verb translated touched is a participle in Hebrew, which gives vividness to the scene. The force of the Hebrew is something like “And behold, an angel is touching him.”

Arise and eat is literally “Arise eat.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation add the conjunction and as required by English usage. Since there is no conjunction, this is probably not a case of the use of the semantically empty verb “arise” together with another verb as in verse 3 and described elsewhere (see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.50). In this case the first verb literally means “get up” or “wake up.”

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 .