19as well as all of Solomon’s storage cities, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
Other translations include:
Chichicapan Zapotec: “ox cart” (in Acts 8) (ox carts are common vehicles for travel) (source: Loren Bliese)
Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
HausaCommon Language Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 9:19:
Kupsabiny: “He also renovated all his cities of stores/granaries, chariots which are pulled, his horses and his people who travel on those horses. He also built all other things which he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon and everywhere else within in where he was ruling.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “and he also built cities that had storage places as well as cities for his horses and his chariots. In Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in the whole territory of his kingdom he built everything, whatever he felt like building.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “and all the towns which-are the-place-to-put his storage, chariots, and horses. He built all what he wanted to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and to all the land which-are under- his -jurisdiction.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “They also built cities where they kept the supplies for Solomon, the places where his horses and chariots were kept. They also built everything else that Solomon wanted them to build, in Jerusalem and in Lebanon, and in other places in the area over which he ruled.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Store-cities were towns that served as places for the storage of government supplies, including food. In addition to the Good News Translation model, some other possible translations are “cities where he could store grain and supplies” (International Children’s Bible), “towns as supply centers” (New Living Translation), and “storage towns” (New Jerusalem Bible).
The cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen: See the comments at 1 Kgs 1.5 and 4.26. As noted in the discussion of the same Hebrew noun for horsemen in 1 Kgs 4.26, this noun may refer to “cavalry” (New Revised Standard Version), “horses” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), or “chariot soldiers” (International Children’s Bible). Whatever the precise meaning of the Hebrew noun here, it is clear that both horses and soldiers would have been stationed in these cities. For this reason the following rendering, which includes both, may be a useful model: “chariot towns, and cavalry towns” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
And whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem: Other renderings include “He built to his heart’s content in Jerusalem” (New Living Translation) and “Solomon had them build whatever he wanted in Jerusalem” (Contemporary English Version).
Lebanon: See the comments on 1 Kgs 4.33.
In all the land of his dominion: Other translations include “in all the land under his rule” (An American Translation), “throughout the entire realm” (New Living Translation), and “in all the land submitted to his authority” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).
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 .
9:19a as well as all the store cities that Solomon had for his chariots and horses—
as well as all his cities for storing supplies and towns to keep his chariots and his cavalry. -or-
Solomon also ⌊forced/ordered men/workers⌋ to build cities in which to keep grain and other goods, and towns to take care/charge of his chariots and his horses.
9:19b whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem,
⌊King Solomon⌋ built whatever he wanted to build in Jerusalem, -or-
⌊He forced/ordered men/workers⌋ to build all the buildings he wished, in Jerusalem,
9:19c Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.
as well as in Lebanon and in all the land he ruled. -or-
in ⌊the land/country of⌋ Lebanon, and in many other places where he had power/authority.
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