translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “the sons of the prophets.”


text: Heb “sit before you.”


text: Heb “narrow, tight.”


text: Heb “iron.”


text: Or “ah.”


text: Heb “man of God” (also in v. 9 ).


text: Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


label: NET textual note

text: The verb form used here is difficult to analyze. On the basis of the form נְחִתִּים ( nÿkhitim ) in v. 9 from the root נָחַת ( nakhat ), it is probably best to emend the verb to תִּנְחְתוּ ( tinkhÿtu ; a Qal imperfect form from the same root). The verb נָחַת in at least two other instances carries the nuance “go down, descend” in a military context. For a defense of this view, see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 72.


text: The vav + perfect here indicates action contemporary with the preceding main verb (“sent”). See IBHS 533-34 §32.2.3e.


text: Heb “and the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God spoke to him, and he warned it and he guarded himself there, not once and not twice.”


text: Heb “and the heart of the king of Syria was stirred up over this thing.”


text: Heb “servants.”


text: Heb “Will you not tell me who among us [is] for the king of Israel?” The sarcastic rhetorical question expresses the king’s suspicion.


text: Heb “he” (also a second time in this verse); the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “Go and see where he [is] so I can send and take him.”


text: Heb “heavy force.”


text: Heb “man of God’s.”


text: Heb “his young servant said to him.”


text: Heb “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”


text: Heb “and he saw, and look.”


text: Heb “and they came down to him.”


text: Or “this nation,” perhaps emphasizing the strength of the Syrian army.


text: On the basis of the Akkadian etymology of the word, M. Cogan and H. Tadmor ( II Kings [AB], 74) translate “blinding light.” HALOT 761 s.v. סַנְוֵרִים suggests the glosses “dazzling, deception.”


text: Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “according to the word of Elisha.”


text: For location see Map2-B1 ; Map4-D3 ; Map5-E2 ; Map6-A4 ; Map7-C1 .


text: Heb “and they saw, and look, [they were] in the middle of Samaria.”


text: Heb “Should I strike them down? I will strike them down.” In the Hebrew text the first person imperfect form is repeated; the first form has the interrogative he prefixed to it; the second does not. It is likely that the second form should be omitted as dittographic or that the first should be emended to an infinitive absolute.


text: Heb “my father.” The king addresses the prophet in this way to indicate his respect. See 2 Kgs 2:12 .


text: Heb “Are [they] ones you captured with your sword or your bow (that) you can strike (them) down?”


text: Or “held a great feast.”


text: Heb “they went back.”


text: Heb “went up.”


text: Heb “and there was a great famine in Samaria.”


text: Heb “and look, [they] were besieging it until.”


text: Heb “eighty, silver.” The unit of measurement is omitted.


text: The consonantal text ( Kethib ) reads, “dove dung” ( חֲרֵייוֹנִים , khareyonim ), while the marginal reading ( Qere ) has “discharge” ( דִּבְיוֹנִים , divyonim ). Based on evidence from Akkadian, M. Cogan and H. Tadmor ( II Kings [AB], 79) suggest that “dove’s dung” was a popular name for the inedible husks of seeds.


text: Heb “five, silver.” The unit of measurement is omitted.


text: Heb “From where can I help you, from the threshing floor or the winepress?” The rhetorical question expresses the king’s frustration. He has no grain or wine to give to the masses.


text: Heb “the people saw, and look, [there was] sackcloth against his skin underneath.”


text: Heb “So may God do to me, and so may he add.”


text: Heb “if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat stays on him today.”


text: Heb “and the elders were sitting with him.”


text: Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “sent a man from before him, before the messenger came to him.”


text: Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “elders.”


text: Heb “Do you see that this son of an assassin has sent to remove my head?”


text: Heb “Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”


text: The Hebrew text also has “look” here.


text: Heb “came down to him.”


text: Heb “Look, this is a disaster from the Lord .”