Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me?: In other contexts the Hebrew verb rendered has humbled himself refers to being subdued politically to superior military might, but here (and in 2 Kgs 22.19) it involves spiritual submission. In some languages this is translated “has lowered himself” or “has caused himself to be low.”

Before me may be translated “in my presence” or “in my sight.” However, this should not be understood to mean that Ahab humbled himself only when God was looking. Rather, the meaning is “do you see how sorry Ahab is for what he did?” (Contemporary English Version).

Because he has humbled himself before me: Instead of placing the word Because at the beginning of the second sentence, it will be more natural in some languages to state simply that “Ahab has truly humbled himself before me” and then in a new sentence begin with the connecting word “Therefore” or the phrase “For this reason” followed by the promise of the delayed punishment.

In his days … in his son’s days: This literal rendering refers to the period during which Ahab was alive and when his son lived.

His house again refers to Ahab’s family.

The fulfillment of this promise to punish Ahab’s family is found in 2 Kgs 9.26 and 10.6-10.

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 .