Tarry here, I pray you: The verb Tarry is considered archaic in modern English and has been replaced by “Stay” in New Revised Standard Version. Similarly, the entreaty I pray you is more naturally rendered as “please” (New American Bible, American Bible). Some versions have actually omitted it altogether (New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible), but if the receptor language has a natural way of making a polite request, translators should use such forms here (see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.12).
For: The word used here in Hebrew shows that what follows is the reason for the request that Elisha remain behind. God’s Word translates it “because.”
The LORD has sent me as far as Bethel: There is no special emphasis in the text on great distance. The Hebrew preposition rendered as far as means simply “up to” or “until.” As noted above, the distance from Gilgal to Bethel was about 13 kilometers (eight miles). The emphasis seems to be more on the fact that Elijah was to continue the journey while Elisha was expected to stop. Therefore both New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New American Bible translate “the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” New Jerusalem Bible shows more clearly that Elijah alone is to continue the journey to Bethel: “Yahweh is only sending me to Bethel.”
The direct quotation of what Elijah says to Elisha may be better translated as indirect speech in some languages. A possible model for this may be “Elijah requested that Elisha wait for him [there] because the LORD had told him to go on to Bethel [alone].”
Elisha responds using two forceful statements to strengthen his affirmation that he will not let Elijah go to Bethel alone. For the expression As the LORD lives, see 1 Kgs 1.29; 2.24; 22.14. The second oath, as you yourself live, is repeated in verses 4 and 6 in this chapter as well as in 4.30. Compare also 1 Sam 1.26; 17.55; 20.3; 25.26; 2 Sam 11.11; 14.19. As you yourself live is literally “life of your soul.” The sense is “I swear … by your own life” (Contemporary English Version). Revised English Bible says “your life upon it.”
I will not leave you is literally “if I leave you.” The form of the Hebrew leaves unstated what is understood. The sense is “if I leave you, may something terrible happen to me.”
As in the case of Elijah’s direct quotation, Elisha’s response could be rendered indirectly as follows: “But Elisha swore by Yahweh and by the life of Elijah that he would not let him go alone.”
They went down to Bethel: This expression is strange since Bethel was located at a higher altitude than Gilgal. Since Gilgal was north of Bethel, this seems to be the basis for the Revised English Bible rendering “They went down country to Bethel.” The Septuagint says simply “they went to Bethel,” and many modern translations take the same approach.
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 .