In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho: In his days refers to the time during which Ahab ruled. Hiel was from the town of Bethel (see 1 Kgs 12.29). As often in 1–2 Kings, the Hebrew verb rendered built may be translated “rebuilt” as the context requires (Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). Since Jericho was an urban center, some languages may require that this be indicated in translation. Contemporary English Version and International Children’s Bible speak of “the town of Jericho.”
He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his first-born, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub: The text of 1–2 Kings often speaks of the foundation of a building (see the comments on 1 Kgs 5.17), but in this case the word foundation refers to the base on which the walls of the town of Jericho were built. Nevertheless, the principle is the same, so the word should be translated in a similar way, but keeping in mind that the walls of a town are in view. The gates mentioned here are the gates in the wall of the town. In some languages the word for gates is “doors,” “mouths,” or simply “openings.” But translators should ensure that it was possible to close such openings.
At the cost of is literally “with.” Contemporary English Version attempts to convey the meaning of this simple preposition by restructuring this part of the verse as follows: “But while Hiel was laying the foundation for the town wall, his oldest son Abiram died. And while he was finishing the gates, his youngest son Segub died.”
Exactly how the two sons of Hiel died is not clear. Perhaps the meaning is only that their deaths were understood as God’s action in fulfillment of his curse through Joshua. Some interpreters understand the meaning to be that his first-born son died, and then one by one, all of his other sons also died until finally his youngest son also died.
Another explanation is also possible. Some archaeological evidence seems to indicate that infants and small children were sacrificed to the gods and buried in pots under the foundations of gates and houses in order to ensure the protection of the gods. This evidence is the basis for the footnote in New Jerusalem Bible, which states “Possibly his two sons were slaughtered as a foundation sacrifice.” Osty-Trinquet has a similar note in his translation. Since this interpretation is not directly supported by the text, translators should not impose it on the translation of this verse. But such a footnote may be helpful in other receptor languages.
According to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua …: This refers to the LORD’s curse through Joshua on the person who would try to rebuild the city of Jericho. This curse is recorded in Josh 6.26. By Joshua is literally “by the hand of Joshua,” but such a literal rendering is not recommended here.
Joshua lived before the time of King David. It is important that readers understand that Joshua was not alive at the time of Ahab. Compare Contemporary English Version: “This happened just as the LORD had told Joshua to say many years ago.” Contemporary English Version, however, gives the impression that “many years ago” is written from the perspective of the author, who wrote this history many years after the time of Ahab. It may be better to say “This happened just as the LORD had told Joshua the son of Nun many years earlier.”
Joshua is identified as the son of Nun at least twenty-five times in the Old Testament. So some translators feel that it is not necessary to repeat that information in a context such as this one (so Contemporary English Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).
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 .