Elisha said to the king of Israel: The Hebrew text does not include the kings’ question to Elisha but simply assumes it. While Elisha is approached by all three kings, his response is directed specifically toward Joram, the king of Israel, and shows his complete lack of respect for him and his parents.

What have I to do with you?: This same expression is used by David speaking to Abishai and Joab in 2 Samuel (16.10; 19.22). It has the sense of “We have nothing in common.” It has been rendered “What do we have to do with each other?” (New International Version) and “I have nothing to do with you” (New Century Version). It will probably be wiser in many languages to translate it as a statement rather than as a question since the intent is strong affirmation.

Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother: Joram’s parents were Ahab and Jezebel, who were well known for their devotion to the Canaanite fertility god Baal. At one time Jezebel was said to have provided food for 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah (1 Kgs 18.19), and she also attempted to do away with the worship of Yahweh by starving and killing his prophets (1 Kgs 18.4, 13). Elisha, the prophet of Yahweh, now suggests that Joram go back to the prophets of Baal and Asherah so dearly loved by his mother. But Joram rejects this idea because he is convinced that it was Yahweh who brought him and the other two kings into their desperate situation.

It is the LORD who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab: See the comments on verse 10. As in verse 10, the translation should be worded in such a way as to show that the speaker, Joram, king of Israel, is included.

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 .