He said: It should be made clear to the reader that the pronoun he at the beginning of this verse refers to the king of Syria. This, in fact, is made explicit in at least one variant of the ancient Greek version.

Go and see where he is: Go and see may be translated by a single verb in certain other languages, which in some cases, will leave the verb Go implicit. Some possibilities are “Search him out” or “Locate him.” But in other languages, it will be perfectly natural to use two imperative verb forms; for example, “Go, find out where he is” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible).

That I may send and seize him: In many languages the verb send will require some sort of object; for example, some may say “so that I can send people to capture him” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “I’ll send soldiers to bring him here” (Contemporary English Version).

Some translators may need to know whether the information about Elisha’s location was given to the king immediately by someone who was present when he spoke or came to him only after the passage of a certain amount of time. More than likely the text leaves implicit the fact that Syrian scouts actually went out in search of the information and then reported back to the king. If this is the case, a transition word like “Later” may be required in certain languages to introduce the reported information.

It was told him: This passive form may be easily transformed into an active statement such as “someone told him” or “they [indefinite] told him.”

Behold: The Hebrew focusing particle here draws attention to the information that follows. But it may not be natural in all languages to use such a device in this context. Most modern English versions omit it.

Dothan is mentioned elsewhere only in the Joseph story (Gen 37.17). This town is generally thought to have been located about 14 kilometers (less than 9 miles) north of Samaria.

The direct quotation informing the king of Elisha’s location may be better presented as indirect discourse in some languages. Contemporary English Version provides a possible model for the last half of this verse: “They learned that Elisha was in the town of Dothan and reported it to the king.”

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 .