Elijah came near to all the people: The word all is left implicit by Good News Translation since readers would assume that “the people” refers to “all the Israelites” mentioned in the previous verse.

How long will you go limping with two different opinions?: How long…? is literally “Until when…?” This is translated quite literally by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. In order to show clearly that the activity in question had already been practiced for some time by the people, both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version translate “How much longer…?” This element is made even clearer by the rendering of Bible en français courant, which says “When will you stop…?”

Will you go limping with two different opinions is literally “will you keep limping/being lame on two branches.” The Hebrew noun for “branches,” which occurs only here in the Old Testament, is based on a root meaning “to cut [or, trim] branches.” Holladay gives the meaning as “crutches (prepared from tree-limbs).” This whole expression is figurative language; and even though the exact meaning is uncertain, the general sense is clear and is expressed as follows in various translations: “will you sit on the fence” (Revised English Bible), “will you straddle the issue” (New American Bible), and “will you keep hopping between two opinions” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

The Hebrew verb translated go on limping is from the same root as an adjective rendered “lame” in Lev 21.18. The verse in Leviticus lists persons who have physical defects that make them unqualified to serve before God’s altar. Use of this verb here by Elijah may imply that these people are not acceptable to God.

Follow him is literally “go after him.” This expression is used in connection with both Yahweh and Baal, so it is to be understood in the sense of religious devotion. Both Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation translate “worship him.”

And the people did not answer him a word: This sentence starts with the common Hebrew conjunction. Since the following words are understood as being contrary to expectation, many versions render the conjunction as “But” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible). The meaning of New American Bible is similar with “however.” The words of this sentence have a parallel in the final sentence of verse 24.

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 .