Lo: This Hebrew particle is more often translated “behold” in Revised Standard Version. It focuses attention on the description that follows and shows the intensity of the officer’s plea for mercy. American Bible translates it “Indeed.” Others render it “See” (New International Version, New Century Version), “Look” (New Revised Standard Version), and “Already” (New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Fire came down from heaven: This may be legitimately translated “God sent fire from heaven” or possibly “lightning fell from heaven.” See verses 10 and 12.

As in verses 10 and 12, the Hebrew verb for consumed is the same word that would be rendered “ate” in other contexts. This is nothing more than a dramatic way of saying that the fire “killed” these officers and their men. Some other possible renderings are “devoured” (Nouvelle version Segond révisée), “wiped out” (Contemporary English Version), and “exterminated” (Bible en français courant).

Let my life be precious in your sight: The plea for mercy is repeated as in the previous verse except that here, the officer does not include the fifty men in his command.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .