But: In Hebrew this verse begins with the verbal transition that is sometimes translated “And it happened” or “And it came to pass” (similarly Jewish Publication Version). If the final words of verse 5 are taken as the author’s comment to the reader, then Ahijah does not know the woman is coming in disguise (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version). Since Ahijah does not know this, his response in this verse is contrary to expectation, so Revised Standard Version (also New Revised Standard Version) begins with the connector But. However, if God told Ahijah that the woman would pretend to be someone else, his response is expected and logical, so New International Version and Bible en français courant begin with “So.”

When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door: While this type of literal rendering of the Hebrew may be adequate in many languages, others will have more idiomatic ways of describing how one person perceives the arrival of another into a room without actually seeing anything. Some possibilities are “when Ahijah heard the noise of her coming in” or “… heard her footsteps as she entered” (Moffatt).

He said: Ahijah begins speaking to Jeroboam’s wife here in verse 6 and continues speaking to her through verse 16. Set within this long quotation is another quotation, which is the message that Jeroboam’s wife is to deliver to Jeroboam (beginning with the words “Thus says the LORD” in verse 7 and continuing to the end of verse 11). Within the words of Jeroboam’s wife is yet a third quotation, which consists of the words of the LORD (beginning with the words “Because I exalted you” in verse 7 and continuing to the end of verse 11). Good News Translation restructures verse 7 so that the second quotation becomes an indirect quotation.

I am charged with heavy tidings for you is literally “I am sent with severe/difficult to you.” The words heavy tidings translate a Hebrew adjective that means “hard,” “difficult,” or “severe.” The word tidings or “news” (Good News Translation) is understood in the Hebrew but has been made explicit in English. New American Bible translates “I have been commissioned to give you bitter news.” The passive verb am charged may be understood in this context as implying divine action. If this is the case, it will be legitimate to make God the explicit subject of the verb by saying “The LORD has charged me with difficult news for you” or something similar.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .