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 9:1

Jehu Becomes King

9:1 Now Elisha the prophet summoned a member of the prophetic guild ⁵  and told him, “Tuck your robes into your belt, take this container ⁶  of olive oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.

2 Kings 4:29

4:29 Elisha ⁷  told Gehazi, “Tuck your robes into your belt, take my staff, ⁸  and go! Don’t stop to exchange greetings with anyone! ⁹  Place my staff on the child’s face.”

[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.

[9:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “one of the sons of the prophets.”

[9:1]  ⁶ tn Or “flask.”

[4:29]  ⁹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:29]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “take my staff in your hand.”

[4:29]  ¹¹ tn Heb “If you meet a man, do not greet him with a blessing; if a man greets you with a blessing, do not answer.”