So: The common Hebrew conjunction here is usually expressed by a logical connector in English versions (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version), but in others it is omitted altogether (New American Bible).

Naaman came: The perspective of the writer seems to be with Elisha, but in many languages it will be more natural to use the verb “went” as in Good News Translation.

Horses and chariots: In Hebrew both nouns here are singular (so Hobbs), although some Hebrew manuscripts have “horses and chariot” (so Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible Pléiade). Some manuscripts of the Septuagint read both nouns as plural. It is also possible to take the noun “chariot” as a collective noun, that is, plural in meaning. The majority of modern translations have both nouns in plural form and this is recommended to translators.

Halted: The Hebrew verb here is translated “waited” by Cogan and Tadmor (also New Living Translation), who maintain that “the present verse is misconstrued by all modern versions” (page 64). However, any significant difference in meaning between halted and “waited” is slight and not important.

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 .