And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: The king of Israel may be replaced by the proper name “Ahab” (Good News Translation) or “King Ahab” (New Living Translation) if this is thought to be more natural. In the context of this dialogue, said is translated “answered” by Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and others.

There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD: New Century Version provides a helpful model for this clause, saying “There is one other prophet. We could ask the LORD through him.”

Micaiah the son of Imlah: Nothing more is known of either Micaiah or Imlah. It is generally assumed that Imlah is the father of Micaiah and not his mother, but the text does not say so explicitly. This prophet should not be confused with the prophet Micah, who lived nearly a century later, and whose prophecies are contained in the Old Testament book of Micah. Throughout this chapter the Hebrew has a long form of the prophet’s name, “Micayehu,” except in verse 14, where the Hebrew form is “Micah.” Most English versions use the form Micaiah each time his name occurs in this chapter.

But I hate him: The connector but renders the common Hebrew conjunction, but since there is a clear contrast between the suggestion that Micaiah be consulted and Ahab’s reluctance to do so, the contrasting conjunction in English is appropriate. In Hebrew the pronoun for I is emphatic. This emphasis is not preserved in most English versions, but Traduction œcuménique de la Bible correctly translates this clause as “but [as for] me, I hate him.”

For he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil: The verb prophesies in this context involves speaking a message from God, but not necessarily always about the future. So it should not be translated “predicts.” For this whole clause La Bible du Semeur translates “for he never announces to me anything good; he always announces to me what is bad.” Contemporary English Version has “He always has bad news for me.”

And Jehoshaphat said: In this context the verb said may be rendered “replied” (Good News Translation).

Let not the king say so: This response of Jehoshaphat contains a third person reference to the king, but he is speaking directly to King Ahab. This way of showing respect in Hebrew will not communicate the same thing if translated literally into some other languages. So it may be better to say “Sir, you should not talk like that” or “King Ahab, you shouldn’t say that!” (New Century Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .