This verse is very similar to verse 2. See the comments there.

Instead of taking the proper name Elisha as a part of the direct quotation as in the Hebrew, Good News Translation makes it a part of the setting of the quotation. While the form of the Hebrew is indeed different here from verse 2, translators should feel free to take either of these as a model depending on which one sounds more natural in their language.

The primary difference between verse 2 and this verse is the place name Jericho, a city about 9.5 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Dead Sea and 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) southeast of Bethel. For more information on Jericho, see the comments on 1 Kgs 16.34.

They came to Jericho: While verse 2 has the verb “went down” at the end, this verse has came. There is, however, very little difference in meaning in the context. The idea here is that Elijah and Elisha continued to travel until they arrived at Jericho.

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 .