So: As a result of the king’s command, Hazael took the action described in this verse. The connecting word here should make this clear.

Took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camel loads: The singular word present may seem out of place in this context. Forty camel loads would not be considered a single gift in many languages. Translators may need to use a plural form at this point. Damascus was a very important commercial center, located at the crossroads of routes connecting Egypt, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia. For camel see the comments on 1 Kgs 10.2.

He came and stood before him: It will be important to make the pronoun references here clear. It is Hazael who presents himself before Elisha.

Your son Ben-hadad: A literal translation of this expression is likely to cause serious problems for the reader. The expression is intended to show respect and submission on the part of a person whose very life was thought to be at the mercy of the man of God. Possible translations of the meaning might be “Benhadad, who depends on you,” “Your loyal servant Ben-Hadad” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), “your humble servant Ben-Hadad” (Bible en français courant), “Ben-hadad … who sees you as a father” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), and “Your servant … Benhadad” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, La Bible du Semeur, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

The text does not say whether Elisha accepted the gifts brought by Hazael or refused them as he had done in the case of the Syrian general Naaman (2 Kgs 5.16).

Shall I recover from this sickness?: Once again this quotation within the larger one should probably be made into indirect discourse.

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 .