The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse is translated So by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other modern English versions. This reflects the fact that the conjunction is used as a logical connector in this context. It is because of what the LORD said to Elijah that the prophet took the action described in this verse. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh correctly translates the meaning using the less common term “Thereupon.”

Elijah went to show himself to Ahab: See the comments on the verb show in verse 1. For reasons of English style, Good News Translation says simply that “Elijah started out.” Similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “Elijah set out to appear to Ahab,” because the following verses show that certain other events intervened before Elijah actually reached King Ahab.

The famine was severe: These words have been rendered by others as “the famine was raging” (Moffatt) and “there was no food” (New Century Version). There is actually no verb in the Hebrew, but the verb “to be” is understood. The text has only the Hebrew noun for “famine,” which is followed by the adjective meaning “hard” or “strong.” But the idea is that “there was a strong famine.”

Samaria: See the comments on 1 Kgs 16.24.

It will be important in most languages to ensure that a new paragraph is begun in the middle of this verse at the point where the severity of the famine is mentioned (so Good News Translation, Nouvelle Bible Segond). This will help the reader to understand that the following verses set up the encounter between Elijah and Obadiah.

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 .