In view of the context that follows, the verb said at the beginning of this verse will probably require a translation with more emotive content, for example, “exclaimed” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version) or “cried out” (Contemporary English Version).
Alas! is an exclamation of despair that is close to “Oh no!” (God’s Word) in modern English. The same Hebrew term for Alas is used in Josh 7.7 and Jdg 11.35. It is not the same Hebrew word translated this way in 1 Kgs 13.30, but the meaning is quite similar in this context. Another attempt to translate the meaning here is “This is terrible!” (Contemporary English Version).
The LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab: While this is a simple, declarative statement, the meaning seems to be “it looks like the LORD has called…” or “it appears that the LORD has called….” New International Version reflects this by translating it as a question: “Has the LORD called…?” King Joram apparently considered their predicament as a part of God’s plan and therefore thought that their defeat was certain.
Since the person speaking these words was one of the three kings, some adjustment will have to be made in translation to make it clear that he is clearly included. The pronoun them will have to be changed in most languages to a more inclusive pronoun like “us” in order to make it clear that the speaker, King Joram of Israel, was in fact also included among the threatened kings he was talking about. Revised English Bible may provide a good model for some languages: “the LORD has brought together three kings, only to put us at the mercy of the Moabites.”
The hand of Moab refers to the power of the king of Moab and his people. American Bible, New International Version, and New Century Version retain the image of the hand by using the common English idiom “to hand … over.” But others simply translate the meaning; for example, Contemporary English Version has “… to be captured by Moab’s army” and Bible en français courant says “… to deliver us into the power of the Moabites.”
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 .