The common Hebrew conjunction here is translated But in Revised Standard Version since the king’s response is seen as contrary to the expectation of the reader that Hadad would be granted his request.

Country: See verse 21.

He said to him: The Hebrew says “He said, ‘No.’ ” Many interpreters correct the Hebrew word for “No” to read “to him.” The Hebrew words for “no” and “to him” sound the same and were often confused in the manuscripts. But the sense of the Masoretic Text is “He said [to him], ‘No, that is not the reason I wish to leave.’ ” Or it may be taken to mean “He said, ‘[I have lacked] nothing.’ ” Many modern versions adopt the reading of the Masoretic Text (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Jewish Publication Version). Bible en français courant, for example, says “ ‘I don’t lack anything,’ he replied.”

Only let me go is literally “Only to go let me go.” This construction gives emphasis to Hadad’s request. Good News Translation attempts to capture the emphasis by using the word “Just.”

As the footnote in Good News Translation states, the words “And he went back to his country” are not in the Masoretic Text. Good News Translation follows the Septuagint in adding these words, but Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends that the shorter reading of the Masoretic Text be followed. But if the shorter reading is adopted, the story will certainly be seen as incomplete since it ends with a second request to which there is no response and no conclusion to the story.

The final sentence of this verse in Good News Translation is also based on the Septuagint. In the Masoretic Text this sentence, with some differences, comes at the end of verse 25. Like Good News Translation, many other modern versions also transpose the second half of verse 25 to the end of verse 22 (so New Jerusalem Bible, La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet). Revised English Bible places all of verse 25 at the end of verse 22. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends that the order of the Masoretic Text be followed.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .