2 Raja-raja 8:9

8:9 So Hazael went to visit Elisha. ¹  He took along a gift, ²  as well as ³  forty camel loads of all the fine things of Damascus. When he arrived, he stood before him and said, “Your son, ⁴  King Ben Hadad of Syria, has sent me to you with this question, ⁵  ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”

2 Raja-raja 8:12

8:12 Hazael asked, “Why are you crying, my master?” He replied, “Because I know the trouble you will cause the Israelites. You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to bits, and rip open their pregnant women.”

2 Raja-raja 9:18

9:18 So the horseman ⁶  went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’” ⁷  Jehu replied, “None of your business! ⁸  Follow me.” The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but hasn’t started back.”

[8:9]  ¹ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:9]  ² tn The Hebrew text also has “in his hand.”

[8:9]  ³ tn Heb “and.” It is possible that the conjunction is here explanatory, equivalent to English “that is.” In this case the forty camel loads constitute the “gift” and one should translate, “He took along a gift, consisting of forty camel loads of all the fine things of Damascus.”

[8:9]  ⁴ sn The words “your son” emphasize the king’s respect for the prophet.

[8:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “saying.”

[9:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “the rider of the horse.”

[9:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “Is there peace?”

[9:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “What concerning you and concerning peace?” That is, “What concern is that to you?”