The saying … shall surely come to pass is literally “the word to be it shall be.” This Hebrew construction functions to express certainty. This may be translated “the word … will certainly come true” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “the word … shall certainly come to pass” (New American Bible).

The saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel refers the reader back to verses 2 and 4, where the same expression is used. The fact that the prophecy against the altar in Bethel remains to be fulfilled gives additional support to the interpretation of verse 5 as a parenthetical statement by the author to the readers of his own day.

Moffatt translates the words the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD as “his threat, inspired by the Eternal.”

For all the houses of the high places, see 1 Kgs 3.2 and 12.31.

The mention of Samaria is an anachronism since the city of Samaria was not actually founded until some fifty years later (see 1 Kgs 16.23-24), and only much later was the name given to the northern kingdom of Israel. In this verse Samaria refers either to the district of Samaria or to the ten northern tribes and not the capital city.

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 .