enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic 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 Maccabees 12:28

When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were prepared for battle: Evidently the enemy also had scouts or spies, for they knew that the Jewish soldiers were ready to fight during the night. They were hoping for the advantage of surprise, but when they realized they had lost it, they lost their enthusiasm for the fight. They were afraid to go through with their plans. When the enemy heard may be expressed as “When someone informed [or, told] the enemy soldiers.”

They were afraid and were terrified at heart: Good News Bible combines were afraid and were terrified at heart into “were panic-stricken.” Contemporary English Version keeps two verbs, saying “lost their nerve and were frightened.” Either model is acceptable.

So they kindled fires in their camp and withdrew: As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, and withdrew is not found in most Greek manuscripts. However, we recommend accepting it, along with Good News Bible, and think a footnote is unnecessary. Apparently the enemy stoked up their campfires to be sure that the Jews could see them, and then retreated, hoping to put some distance between themselves and Jonathan’s men before daylight revealed that their camp was empty.

Good News Bible has a good model for this verse. Contemporary English Version is also helpful with:

• But the king’s troops lost their nerve and were frightened when someone informed them that the Jews were ready for their attack. So they lit campfires and ran away.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.