So: This verse begins in Hebrew with the common conjunction. Since verse 10 states what the man of God did in response to God’s command in verse 9, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other modern translations correctly translate the conjunction with So in English.

He went another way, and did not return by the way …: The writer states the same thing in two different ways, first positively and then negatively. It will be noted that Good News Translation reverses the order of the two elements. Whichever order is most natural should be used in the language of translation, but the repetition should be retained for the sake of emphasis. In most cases the conjunction that joins the two elements will mark a contrast (“but”) rather than a simple addition (“and”).

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 .