covering an entire area

In Gbaya, the notion of covering an entire area with something (for instance with animals or with people) is emphasized in the referenced verses with delele, an ideophone that refers to something that covers an entire area of land.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (1 Kings 20:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 20:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “Ahab also gathered his soldiers and gave (them) enough weapons to go and fight the soldiers of Syria. The soldiers of Syria were very many surpassing those of Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Israelites also took weapons and assembled. All of them were provided with food. Then dividing into two groups they went to fight with them. The Israelites set up their camp facing them. As for the Arameans, the Israelites looked like two small flocks of goats. The Arameans, however, were spread out, filling the plain.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The Israelinhon also gathered and prepared their needs, and then they went-out to fight-against the Arameanhon. They camped facing the camp of the Arameanhon. But they were just like two small flocks of goats compared to the Arameanhon who covered the plains/valleys.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The Israeli army was also gathered together, and they were equipped with the things that they needed for the battle. Then they marched out and formed two groups facing the Syrian army. Their army was very small; they resembled two small flocks of goats, whereas the Syrian army was very large and spread all over the countryside.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 20:27

The people of Israel is literally “the sons of Israel” (so Reina-Valera revisada). Compare “the children of Israel” (King James Version). See the comments on this expression at 1 Kgs 6.1.

Mustered: See the comments on this verb in verse 15.

Were provisioned translates a Hebrew verb meaning “to be provided” and the implied object is probably “food.” This same verb occurs in an active form in 1 Kgs 4.7, where Revised Standard Version translates it “provided food” and “to make provision.” The sense of the text is not that the Israelite soldiers were fed immediately before going into battle (as Parole de Vie might be understood) but rather that they were given provisions that they would take with them. Some interpreters, however, think that the Hebrew root here in verse 27 is a different verb from the one in 4.7 and that it is a military term, meaning “to be counted.” For this reason Revised English Bible renders this verb “formed into companies.” The Septuagint, which does not have this verb, is followed by De Vries.

The passive construction of the Hebrew in the first part of this verse (the people of Israel were mustered, and were provisioned) is reflected by both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, but such wording will be problematic for certain languages. In order to make these statements active, it will be necessary to make the agent explicit. The writer’s use of this passive construction may imply that God was the agent behind the actions of mustering and providing for the people (see the comments on verse 30). It was no doubt the king who was God’s agent in ensuring that his troops were assembled and given the necessary provisions to go into battle. Therefore, it will be legitimate to translate “King Ahab gathered his soldiers together and gave them the things they needed for the battle.”

The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats: How is the word two to be understood? Why did the writer not say “… like a little flock of goats?” It may well be that the Israelite troops had been divided into two divisions. Parole de Vie, in fact, makes this interpretation explicit by saying “The Israelites were divided into two groups that looked like two small flocks of goats.” Bible en français courant similarly says “They camped in two groups, facing the Syrians. They looked like two small flocks of goats.”

Little flocks translates a Hebrew noun that occurs only here in the Old Testament. The Septuagint translates it as “little flocks.” The exact meaning is uncertain, but the noun may come from a root meaning “to cause a premature birth.” If so, then the reference is to young goats that were born prematurely and are therefore incapable of defending themselves. For two little flocks of goats, Revised English Bible says “a pair of new-born goats” and Anchor Bible translates “two exposed (flocks of) goats.” Whatever the precise meaning of the Hebrew noun, the general sense is clear from the context: the Israelite army appears small and weak, while the Syrian army is large and powerful.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .