Behold: The Hebrew focusing particle rendered here is omitted by most modern English versions, but New Jerusalem Bible translates it as “Look,” and both New International Version and New Century Version begin this verse with “Listen!” In this context the focusing particle suggests that the action will take place soon. In other languages there may be a similar particle drawing attention to what is about to be said that fits quite naturally in this context. See the comments at 1 Kgs 1.18 and 2 Kgs 2.11. See also the discussion on Hebrew focusing particles in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” pages 13-14.

I will put a spirit in him: Revised English Bible translates “I shall sap his morale,” which gives a very different impression to the reader. The spirit that Yahweh promises to put in the Assyrian king is one that would cause him to be upset. In some languages it may be necessary to say something like “I will influence his thinking” or “I will cause thoughts to enter his head.”

He shall hear a rumor and return to his own land: The Hebrew word translated rumor is elsewhere rendered as “report” (1 Kgs 10.7), “tidings” (1 Sam 4.19), and “news” (1 Kgs 2.28). The word for rumor comes from the Hebrew verb rendered hear, so it is quite possible to translate this part of the verse as “he will hear something that will make him go back home.” Compare “the king will receive a report from Assyria telling him that he is needed at home” (New Living Translation). It should be made clear that the thing heard results in the return of the king to his own country. The text does not say what this rumor might be, but it may have been a report that the Egyptian (see verse 9) or Babylonian armies were preparing to attack Assyria.

I will cause him to fall by the sword: Another way of saying this would be “I will cause him to die in battle” since the verb fall is a way of speaking of dying and the sword stands for warfare in general. Contemporary English Version translates “I will make him die a violent death.”

The repetition of in his own land may sound quite unnatural in certain languages. So the second occurrence may be replaced by an adverb of place, such as “there” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

There is a very slight difference in the Revised Standard Version wording between this verse and the parallel account in Isa 37.7. But this does not reflect a real difference in the Hebrew and should be ignored.

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 .