enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

Translation commentary on 1 Esdras 4:4

If he tells them to make war on one another, they do it: This sentence does not refer to a king ordering his people into a civil war, which would serve no purpose. Instead, it states that kings are responsible for starting wars. Wherever there is a war, it is because some ruler has caused it.

And if he sends them out against the enemy, they go: This is a more specific statement. Rulers always send armies against enemies.

And conquer mountains, walls, and towers refers to conquering cities. A well fortified city would be located on a high hill, which an enemy would have to climb. The city would be protected by a surrounding wall, with towers built here and there along the length of the wall (see the comments on 1 Esd 1.55). The towers gave a better view of the attacking enemy and gave soldiers with bows and arrows a more protected place to stand, since it would be harder for enemy arrows to reach them. They gave the city the advantages that a higher wall would give, but without the expense of actually building the wall higher.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• If he decides to go to war, people go to war. When he sends his army against an enemy, his soldiers will climb steep hills to reach cities, and then fight to break through their walls and destroy their towers.

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.