complete verse (1 Chronicles 7:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 7:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “Ephraim had his daughter who was called Sheerah. This daughter of his built the city of Beth-horon the upper and the lower, and she also built Uzzen-sheerah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He had one daughter named [lit.: called] Sheerah. Sheerah founded lower and upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah city.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Efraim had a female child who was Sheera. She was the one who built the lower and upper part/portion of Bet Horon and of Uzen Sheera.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 7:24

His daughter was Sheerah: Since Beriah is mentioned at the end of the previous verse, the pronoun His is ambiguous in the Hebrew. Some interpreters consider Sheerah to be the daughter of Beriah. Others consider her to be the daughter of Ephraim. Either interpretation is possible. If the second interpretation is followed, Good News Translation provides a good model by changing the pronoun to the name “Ephraim” (also New Living Translation, New Century Version, La Bible du Semeur, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah: Since Sheerah did not actually do the construction work herself, it will be better in some languages to say that she had these three towns built (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). La Bible du Semeur says that she “fortified” these towns, probably because at least two of these towns are said to have been in existence previously (see Josh 16.3-5). According to 2 Chr 8.5, Solomon rebuilt the towns of Upper and Lower Beth Horon.

Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah were towns, which may be made explicit (so Good News Translation, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). The first two towns, located in the southern part of the territory of Ephraim, are mentioned in Josh 16.3-5 and 18.13-14. Lower and Upper Beth-horon is literally “Beth Horon the lower and the upper.” These two cities were located in the hill country of Aijalon Valley. Lower Beth-horon was located in the valley, and Upper Beth-horon was located on a peak more than 130 meters (425 feet) higher and about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) away. So Lower and Upper Beth-horon may be rendered “the city of Beth-horon that was in the valley and the city of Beth-horon that was on the hill.” These two cities were located on a major road from the coastal plains in the west into the hill country to the east and had a clear view of the plains below. For this reason they had strategic importance. Uzzen-sheerah, which means “corner of Sheerah” is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 7:24

7:24a His daughter was Sheerah,

Sheerah was Ephraim’s daughter.
-or-
Ephraim was the father of Sheerah.

7:24b who built Lower and Upper Beth-horon, as well as Uzzen-sheerah.

She established Lower Beth-horon town, Upper Beth-horon town, and Uzzen-sheerah town.
-or-
She ⌊instructed her workers to⌋ build the towns of Lower Beth-horon and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah.

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