The battle grew hot is literally “the battle went up.” Gray says “the conflict … mounted,” in the sense that the intensity of fighting increased. In other languages translators may say something like “the combat became very violent” (Parole de Vie) or “the fight grew fiercer” (Moffatt).

The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians: The text does not indicate why Ahab was held up in his chariot. Perhaps this was an attempt to keep the Israelite soldiers from knowing that their king had been seriously wounded. But any suggested reason is only speculation and must not be inserted into the translation of this verse. In languages where this passive construction may need to be made active, translators may say “the king found a way to support himself in an upright position in his chariot while he faced the Syrians.”

Syrians is literally “Aram” (see the comments on the collective use of this singular noun in 1 Kgs 20.20).

Until at evening he died: This expression is awkward in English. New Century Version renders it as a separate sentence at the end of the verse, saying “That evening he died.” The word for evening must refer to a time of day in the late afternoon but just prior to the setting of the sun since “sunset” is mentioned at the beginning of the next verse.

The blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot: Bottom translates the Hebrew noun that often is used of a person’s lap or bosom or of the fold of a garment above the belt where possessions were kept. Its use here in verse 35 is unusual, but the context makes it clear that the meaning is the interior or bottom of the chariot.

The Hebrew text speaks of Ahab’s death before mentioning that his wound bled. Good News Translation sees it as more logical to reverse the order of these two elements, mentioning first the bleeding and then the king’s death. If the order of the Hebrew presents logical problems in the receptor language, the Good News Translation model may be followed.

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 .