46Although King Nebuchadnezzar had made him swear by the name of the Lord, he broke his oath and rebelled; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart and transgressed the laws of the Lord, the God of Israel.
The term that is transliterated as “Nebuchadnezzar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the signs for “king” and one signifying a wavy beard, referring to the common way of wearing a beard in Mesopotamia (see here ). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Nebuchadnezzar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting “idol in my image,” referring to Daniel 3:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
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:
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)
So after a year Nebuchadnezzar sent and removed him to Babylon, with the holy vessels of the Lord: The connector So may be omitted. It will be better to begin verse 45 with “A year later” (Good News Bible, New Revised Standard Version). Contemporary English Version says “At the beginning of the year,” based on the parallel passage of 2 Chr 36.10. Nebuchadnezzar sent and removed him to Babylon means Nebuchadnezzar sent men to Jerusalem to take Jehoiachin prisoner and bring him to the city of Babylon. This happened in early 597 B.C. For holy vessels, see the comments on verse 41.
And made Zedekiah king of Judea and Jerusalem: Zedekiah may have been a brother of Jehoiachin (see 2 Chr 36.10) or his uncle (see 2 Kgs 24.17).
Here is an alternative model for verses 45-46a:
• 45 A year later Nebuchadnezzar sent men to Jerusalem to take Jehoiachin prisoner and bring him to Babylon, along with more of the sacred objects from the Temple. 46 He made [or, appointed] Zedekiah as king of Judah and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old, and he reigned eleven years: Zedekiah was twenty-one when he first became king. He ruled Judah from 598 to 587 B.C. Good News Bible may serve as a model for this verse.
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.
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