15And Samuel left and went on his way from Gilgal. The rest of the people followed Saul to join the army; they went up from Gilgal toward Gibeah of Benjamin.
Preparations for Battle
Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Saul” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign that depicts “sword in chest” (referring to 1 Samuel 31:4 and 1 Chronicles 10:4) and also “self-centered.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Samuel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “listen” referring to 1 Samuel 3:10. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin that is translated as “army” in English is translated in Chichewa as “group of warriors.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 13:15:
Kupsabiny: “Then Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah. After that, Saul counted his remaining soldiers, and when he saw (it), they were six hundred.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then leaving Gilgal, Samuel went to Gibeah in Benjamin. Then Saul counted the number of men who were with him. They were only about 600.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Then Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibea which is-part/under-the-jurisdiction of the land of Benjamin. Saul counted his men who were-left/remaining; they (were) about 600 all-(together).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah. Saul stayed at Gilgal with his soldiers. There were only about 600 of them left who had not run away.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Benjamin” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wolf,” referring to Genesis 49:27. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In the first part of this verse, Revised Standard Version follows the Masoretic Text, while Good News Translation (also New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible) follows the longer text of the Septuagint. It is possible that the Septuagint contains a later addition to the original text, but it is more likely that the Hebrew text is the result of an accidental omission by a scribe whose eyes jumped from the first “Gilgal” in this verse to the second. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Septuagint reading. Translators should therefore follow the textual decision of Good News Translation rather than that of Revised Standard Version.
Arose: see the comments on this verb in 9.3.
Gibe-ah of Benjamin: see the comment on 10.5.
The people here, as often in 1 and 2 Samuel, refers to the army or the “troops.” See the comments on verses 2 and 4 above.
The verb rendered numbered has a wide range of meanings, but in this context the verb means something like “counted” (New Revised Standard Version), “to call up for military duty,” “to inspect the troops” (Good News Translation), or “to pass the forces [or, soldiers] in review” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Bible en français courant, and New Jerusalem Bible). It represents the same Hebrew verb as translated “mustered” in 11.8.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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