42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).
Norm Mundhenk tells this story:
“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”
In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
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)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Jehoshaphat” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “king” and “mixup” referring to the fateful alliance with king Ahab of Israel in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 22:42:
Kupsabiny: “He began rulership having (being) 35 years, and he ruled 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother was called Azubah daughter of Shilhi.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Jehoshaphat became King when he was 35 years old. He reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah. Azubah was the daughter of Shilhi.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Jehoshafat was 35 years old when he became king. He lived in Jerusalem, and he reigned for 25 years. His mother was Azuba the child of Shilhi.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he started to rule, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
He reigned twenty-five years: Jehoshaphat’s reign was approximately 870–848 B.C.
Azubah the daughter of Shilhi: The name Shilhi is not known elsewhere in the Old Testament, except in the parallel passage of 2 Chr 20.31. Most interpreters think that Shilhi was the father of Azubah. But a different interpretation is also possible. When the names of other kings’ mothers are given, the place of her origin is sometimes mentioned (see, for example, “Naamah the Ammonitess” in 14.21 and “Zebidah … of Rumah” in 2 Kgs 23.36). Shilhi may be read as “the Shilhite,” meaning that Azubah was from the town of Shilhim (Josh 15.32). However, few versions follow this interpretation.
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 .
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