So: The common Hebrew conjunction here marks a logical transition.

He set it before them is literally “he gave before them.” The direct object it is supplied by Revised Standard Version. The pronoun he refers to the servant. In certain languages it may be necessary to make this clearer by saying “the servant” in place of the pronoun (so Good News Translation). Similarly, in some languages it will be important to specify what it was that the servant set before them; for example, Good News Translation has “the food” and Nouvelle Bible Segond says “the bread.”

Following the Septuagint, New American Bible leaves out the first sentence of this verse. But translators are advised not to omit these words.

They ate; that is, they ate the food that the servant had set before them. Some languages will require something like “they ate this food” or “they ate what he gave them.”

Had some left: There was adequate food for all the prophets to eat and when they had completed their meal, there was still food left over.

According to the word of the LORD: It will be noted that Good News Translation shifts this clause forward in the sentence so that it comes immediately after he set it before them. This shows that both the eating and having leftovers happened because of what the LORD had said. This is in keeping with the words that follow “thus says the LORD” at the end of verse 43.

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 .