Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

Translation commentary on 1 Esdras 1:31

And he got into his second chariot surely means that other men put the wounded king into the chariot, not that he climbed into it himself. New English Bible is better here by saying his servants “lifted him into his second chariot.” There is textual evidence for this reading, and we suggest following it. That he was put in a second chariot implies that the chariot Josiah had been in was damaged in the battle or that one or more of the horses were wounded or killed. This second chariot was probably larger and better suited for a retreat carrying a wounded passenger, while the first would have been smaller with room for only one person actively engaged in fighting.

And after he was brought back to Jerusalem he died, and was buried in the tomb of his fathers: The tomb of his fathers refers to a tomb probably cut from a hillside, or consisting of a natural cave, in which the bodies of previous kings of Judah had been laid.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• They lifted him into* another chariot and took him back to Jerusalem. There he died. Then they buried him in the tomb where his ancestors had been buried.
* They lifted him into; some manuscripts have He got into.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.