2 Kings 1:7-9

New English Translation

⁷The king^[a] asked them, “Describe the appearance^[b] of this man who came up to meet you and told you these things.” ⁸They replied,^[c] “He was a hairy^[d] man and had a leather belt^[e] tied around his waist.” The king^[f] said, “He is Elijah the Tishbite.”

⁹The king^[g] sent a captain and his fifty soldiers^[h] to retrieve Elijah.^[i] The captain^[j] went up to him while he was sitting on the top of a hill.^[k] He told him, “Prophet,^[l] the king says, ‘Come down!’”

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Footnotes

2 Kings 1:7 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 Kings 1:7 tn Heb “What was the manner…?”
2 Kings 1:8 tn Heb “said to him.”
2 Kings 1:8 tn Heb “an owner of hair.” This idiomatic expression indicates that Elijah was very hairy. For other examples where the idiom “owner of” is used to describe a characteristic of someone, see HALOT 143 s.v. בַּעַל. For example, an “owner of dreams” is one who frequently has dreams (Gen 37:19) and an “owner of anger” is a hot-tempered individual (Prov 22:24).
2 Kings 1:8 tn Heb “belt of skin” (i.e., one made from animal hide).
2 Kings 1:8 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 Kings 1:9 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 Kings 1:9 tn Heb “officer of fifty and his fifty.”
2 Kings 1:9 tn Heb “to him.”
2 Kings 1:9 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the captain) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 Kings 1:9 sn The prophet Elijah’s position on the top of the hill symbolizes his superiority to the king and his messengers.
2 Kings 1:9 tn Heb “man of God” (also in vv. 10, 11, 12, 13).

New English Translation (NET)

2 Kings 1:7-9 New English Translation

Footnotes

2 Kings 1:7-9

New English Translation