The remainder of the chapter presents the area that was inhabited by the people of the tribe of Benjamin. The villages in Benjamin from Geba to Bethel were in the hill country six to eleven miles north of Jerusalem and are listed from south to north toward the coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea.

The people of Benjamin is literally “the sons of Benjamin” in Hebrew, as Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and others translate. The meaning is expressed correctly by Good News Translation and also by Bible en français courant, which says “The families of the tribe of Benjamin.” New International Version renders it “The descendants of the Benjamites,” while New Jerusalem Bible says “some Benjaminites.”

The word also after Benjamin in Revised Standard Version is not a correct translation of the connective conjunction in Hebrew since this is the first mention about where the people of Benjamin lived. The connective conjunction here simply marks the continuation of the narrative.

Aija renders the Hebrew feminine form of the name Ai. Good News Translation harmonizes it with other references to this town (see Ezra 2.28), but most versions retain the Hebrew form of the word that is found here, including Contemporary English Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. Revised English Bible spells it “Aiah,” while Traduction œcuménique de la Bible spells it “Ayya.” It should be transliterated correctly according to the receptor language phonology. If the Hebrew form is kept here, a footnote should be added to explain that it refers to Ai.

And its villages is literally “and its daughters.” See the comments on verse 25 above. Good News Translation interprets this phrase to relate to the area of the four towns that have been named in this verse (similarly New King James Version , which has “and their villages”). However, most versions take this phrase with Bethel alone and translators should do likewise (so Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). The adjective “nearby” of Good News Translation is undoubtedly implicit in the text.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .