Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat: The most natural reading of the Hebrew text is that Ahaziah made his offer to Jehoshaphat following the shipwreck mentioned in the previous verse. But the Hebrew adverb translated Then sometimes indicates a change or new stage in the narrative rather than a change in time. Here it is better rendered “At that time” (New Living Translation).

Ahaziah was mentioned in verse 40. Good News Translation adds that he was the king of Israel, while omitting that he was the son of Ahab.

Let my servants go with your servants in the ships: Servants in this context are not household servants, but sailors who were subservient to King Ahaziah of Israel in the first case and to Jehoshaphat of Judah in the second case. Some versions refer to them simply as “men” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible).

Instead of the direct quotation of Revised Standard Version, it is possible to translate using indirect speech as in Good News Translation and Revised English Bible.

Was not willing is translated “would not agree” by New American Bible and Revised English Bible. In other languages it may be more natural to say simply “refused.”

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 .