2 Kings 1:8

1:8 They replied, ¹  “He was a hairy man ²  and had a leather belt ³  tied around his waist.” The king ⁴  said, “He is Elijah the Tishbite.”

2 Kings 1:1

Elijah Confronts the King and His Commanders

1:1 After Ahab died, Moab rebelled against Israel. ⁵ 

2 Kings 17:1

Hoshea’s Reign over Israel

17:1 In the twelfth year of King Ahaz’s reign over Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria ⁶  for nine years.

[1:8]  ¹ tn Heb “said to him.”

[1:8]  ² 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).

[1:8]  ³ tn Heb “belt of skin” (i.e., one made from animal hide).

[1:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:1]  ⁵ sn This statement may fit better with the final paragraph of 1 Kgs 22.

[17:1]  ⁹ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.