Elisha saw it is literally “Elisha was seeing.” Revised Standard Version (like almost all other versions) supplies the pronoun it. That is, Elisha saw what was happening as his mentor was being taken up into heaven. This was therefore the fulfillment of the condition given by Elijah for Elisha’s receiving a double portion of his spirit.
He cried: The verb is stronger than simply “said.” It carries the idea of making a proclamation to a large assembly of people, yelling aloud or shouting (see 1 Kgs 20.39). American Bible has translated “kept shouting” and correctly insists that the verb form used here has the sense of a repeated action. New Revised Standard Version translates both verbs at the beginning of this verse as continuous action, saying “Elisha kept watching and crying out.” But the sense of the Hebrew grammar is more likely “While Elisha was watching, he kept crying out.”
The twofold repetition of the expression my father is almost certainly a way of showing respect for the leader of the group of prophets. It was possibly used as a more formal title for Elijah. If there is a danger that readers will understand this in a literal way, it may be necessary to translate “respected leader,” “dear master,” or something similar.
The chariots of Israel and its horsemen: The Hebrew word translated chariots is singular, and this is reflected in translations such as “Chariot of Israel and its chargers” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “the chariot and the horsemen of Israel” (Revised English Bible). The meaning of these words is not clear and has given rise to considerable speculation. Since very early times some scholars have considered this to be a kind of title for Elijah and that Elisha is referring to Elijah. For example, the Targum, an ancient Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Old Testament, understood this to mean “you are better for Israel by your prayers than the chariots and horsemen”; that is, Elijah is more powerful and valuable to Israel than its own army. It is this interpretation that gives rise to translations like that of Good News Translation “Mighty defender of Israel! You are gone!” and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente “Defense and strength of Israel.” Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie follow the same interpretation while keeping some of the imagery: “You are worth all the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
Others think the reference is to God’s heavenly army, called the chariots of Israel and its horsemen, taking Elijah from the earth. Although the Hebrew noun translated chariots is singular, it sometimes has a collective (plural) sense. A dynamic rendering of this interpretation is found in Contemporary English Version: “Israel’s calvary and chariots have taken my master away.” This difficult expression occurs also in 2 Kgs 13.14. Since the meaning is not certain, translators may wish to indicate in a footnote the alternative interpretation if Good News Translation is used as a model.
He saw him no more: It should be made clear to the reader that it was Elisha, who was left on earth, who never saw Elijah again. If the use of two pronouns here is confusing to some readers, this clause may be rendered “he never saw Elijah again” or “Elisha never saw his master again.”
He took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces: The Hebrew noun rendered clothes is a general term (similar to the English words “clothing” and “garment”) with a broad range of meanings, depending on the context. It may be necessary to clarify the fact that it was Elisha who grabbed his clothes and tore them. Some languages will also find it necessary to indicate that this action was taken “in order to show his sorrow” or something similar (see Gen 37.34; 2 Sam 1.11; 13.31). See the comments on 1 Kgs 21.27.
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 .