And: In many languages the common Hebrew conjunction here may be better rendered “But” (New American Bible), since what follows contradicts Jehu’s statement at the end of the previous verse.

That is not true: This statement translates a single noun in Hebrew which means “deception.” Clearly, Jehu’s fellow officers were bluntly accusing him of not telling the truth. The Revised Standard Version rendering is therefore probably too polite. Others have translated less tactfully but more faithfully as follows: “Liar!” (New Revised Standard Version), “You’re lying” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “Evasion!” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “That is no answer!” (Revised English Bible).

Tell us now: The officers go on to repeat their request for information but using different words this time. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “Tell us [the truth].” Now renders the Hebrew particle of entreaty, which often serves to soften the harshness of a request. However, this particle also serves to give emphasis to what is said. In this context the word now seems to be a correct rendering of the particle.

He said, “Thus and so he spoke to me…”: The Hebrew words translated Thus and so are probably a shorthand formula that stands for a much longer actual discourse. For this reason they should not be placed within quotation marks since they are not an exact representation of what Jehu said. Only the last part of the Revised Standard Version quotation represents the actual words of Jehu. So it would be legitimate to translate something like “So he told them what the prophet had said and concluded that the LORD had proclaimed, ‘I anoint you king over Israel.’ ” Compare “So he told them what the young man had said to him, and finally, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I anoint you king over Israel” ’ ” (New American Bible). For the use of Thus and so, see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.5-6.

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 .