The common Hebrew conjunction introducing King Ahab’s response is correctly translated But. The king’s reply is somewhat contrary to the reader’s expectation.
How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth…?: The king’s response comes in the form of a question, but it is a rhetorical question that functions to rebuke the prophet, whose answer to the king was spoken with sarcasm. In certain languages this will be better translated as a statement, such as “I have made you promise many times that you will tell the truth….”
Shall I adjure you is translated as “must I put you on oath” by New Jerusalem Bible and “must I make you swear” by New Revised Standard Version and New International Version. Good News Translation fails to preserve this nuance of meaning. But it should be included in the receptor language rendering if possible. The words shall … adjure translate a Hebrew participle. The time reference of the participle is not clear. According to most translations, Ahab’s words are pointing forward in time, so the question may be rendered “How many times shall I [or, must I] make you swear…?” But it is also possible to understand Ahab’s words as pointing backward in time. Anchor Bible, for example, says “How many times have I put you under oath that you should speak to me only the truth…?” and Parole de Vie states “I have already asked you many times to tell me only the truth from the LORD.” If this second interpretation is followed, then Ahab indicates that in the past also, Micaiah’s prophecies did not always agree with the other prophets and that he is suspicious now about whether Micaiah is telling the truth.
To speak … in the name of the LORD underlines the fact that when Micaiah began speaking he started with the solemn statement “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak” (verse 14). This implies a special obligation to tell the absolute truth. So when Ahab responds here, he reminds Micaiah that he is under an oath and has a special obligation to speak the truth. This reminder apparently has its intended consequence because Micaiah goes on to reveal the rest of the story.
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 .