Several English versions, including New Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, change the order of the events described in this verse. The movement of the messenger who was sent by the king of Israel is shifted forward to the beginning of the verse. This may also be a good idea in many other languages.
The elders referred to in this verse were almost certainly the prominent leaders of the city of Samaria and of the kingdom of Israel. The use of the definite article shows that they were not just any elderly people, but those in authority. Contemporary English Version provides a good model for other languages: “the important leaders of Israel.”
Now the king had dispatched a man … Elisha said to the elders: In Hebrew the king had dispatched is literally “he had dispatched,” and Elisha said is literally “he said.” Revised Standard Version has spelled out the pronouns in these phrases to avoid ambiguity with the other third person singular pronouns in this verse.
Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head?: This is a rhetorical question that makes a strong point, so Good News Translation renders it as an exclamation (also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond). The prophet Elisha refers to the king of Israel as this murderer, which is literally “this son of a murderer” (King James Version, La Bible du Semeur, Nouvelle Bible Segond). The words “a murderer” may refer to Ahab and Jezebel, who murdered Naboth and the prophets of God (1 Kgs 21.8-14; 18.4). But the expression “son of a murderer” was probably a common insult without necessarily implying anything about the mother or father of the person described in this way. The expression “son of…” is often used in the Old Testament for a member of a group. The king would therefore be seen as one of those who kill indiscriminately.
As is so often the case in the Old Testament, the verb sent is used without an object. But many languages will require the addition of something like “someone” or “a messenger.”
Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door: Look renders the imperative form of the Hebrew verb for “see,” repeating the same verb found earlier in this verse. The idea here seems to be “See to it that you close the door when the messenger arrives” or possibly, “When you see the messenger approaching, close the door.” “Arrives” (Moffatt) is a good rendering for comes since the messenger was still some distance from Elisha’s house when this statement was made.
Hold the door fast against him: The meaning of these words may be more dynamically rendered “don’t let him in” (Contemporary English Version).
Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?: This question is not asked in an effort to receive information. Rather, it is a way of stating what Elisha considered to be a certainty. It may therefore be better rendered in some languages as an affirmative statement (so Good News Translation). New Century Version, for example, does so by translating “The sound of his master’s feet is behind him.” But Contemporary English Version seeks to render the idea more dynamically with “I’m sure the king himself will be right behind him.”
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 .