The instructions of Elisha continue with two brief commands in the form of direct discourse and each command is followed by an indication that it was accomplished according to the instructions. While this form may be unnatural in some languages, it will be perfectly acceptable in others. Translators should study their own languages to determine how such a series of commands would normally be described and then such forms should be used in translation. There should be no doubt as to which person is giving the instructions and which one is following them. In some languages this will mean replacing the pronouns by proper names or nouns in certain places (so Good News Translation).

Open the window eastward: It is difficult to imagine how Jehoash himself could open a window while holding a drawn bow and arrow with Elisha’s hands at the same time covering his own hands. The sense may be “Have someone open the window….” In many languages it will be more natural to translate “Order someone to open the window….” It is also possible that the events in verses 16-17 are not intended to be taken in strict chronological order. Based on this understanding, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch restructures these two verses as follows:

• Then Elisha said, “Open the window through which one can see toward the east, and draw the bow!” Joash did it.
Now Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands and said, “Shoot!” The king shot the arrow….

Windows at that time were simply openings in the wall. There were not glass windows as there are today. To open the window meant either to draw open the curtain or to open the shutters.

The word eastward may be translated “on the east side [of the room/house]” or “on the side where the sun rises/appears in the morning.” The significance of eastward is clear: according to 2 Kgs 10.32-33, the Syrians controlled the territory east of the Jordan River. For this reason Good News Translation says “the window that faced toward Syria.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente surprisingly says “Open the window that looks toward the west,” but this must surely be a mistake in translation.

He opened it is literally “he opened.” Revised Standard Version and most translations add the pronoun it.

The second command in this verse is Shoot, which may be translated either as a direct quotation or indirectly, depending on what is most natural in the receptor language. In certain languages the idea of shooting in this context will be rendered “Let go of the arrow” since the bow was already drawn.

The LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria!: This is an incomplete sentence, but the verb “to be” is probably to be understood as indicated in the Good News Translation rendering. NET Bible provides what may be a helpful model for other languages: “This arrow symbolizes the victory the LORD will give you over Syria.” The meaning of the expression is, in fact, illuminated by the statement that follows: For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.

Aphek is mentioned eight times in the Old Testament and refers to at least four different cities. The reference here and in 1 Kgs 20.26 is to the city of Aphek in Syria, although its exact location is uncertain. Since many readers today will not know that Aphek is a city, this information may be made explicit.

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 .