2 Raja-raja 1:7-8

1:7 The king ¹  asked them, “Describe the appearance ²  of this man who came up to meet you and told you these things.” 1:8 They replied, ³  “He was a hairy man ⁴  and had a leather belt ⁵  tied around his waist.” The king ⁶  said, “He is Elijah the Tishbite.”

[1:7]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:7]  ² tn Heb “What was the manner…?”

[1:8]  ³ tn Heb “said to him.”

[1:8]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn Heb “belt of skin” (i.e., one made from animal hide).

[1:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.