13Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. When they looked up and saw the ark, they went with rejoicing to meet it.
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the HausaCommon Language Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.
Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
Two kinds of wild wheat have grown in the open deciduous oak woodland in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent for several thousand years: Einkorn Wheat Triticum monococcum and Emmer Wheat Triticum dicoccum. Both came into cultivation together with barley. Just before the time of the Romans, the Naked Bread Wheat or Hard Wheat Triticum durum started replacing the hulled varieties. This then became the favorite type of wheat for bread and macaroni. Spelt is a sub-member of the Triticum aestivum species.
In New Revised Standard Version, updated edition and some other versions, the generic Hebrew word bar has been rendered “wheat” in Jeremiah 23:28 et al. This is legitimate, since the grain referred to by bar was probably wheat. However, it might be better to say “grain” in these passages.
The most important early wheat for the Israelites was emmer, probably the only wheat known in Egypt, and referred to in Hebrew as chittah. However, according to Hepper (Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Plants: Flowers and Trees, Fruits and Vegetables, Ecology. Baker Book House, 1992), the seven-headed wheat of the Egyptian king’s dream (Genesis 41:5ff.) suggests that there may also have been Triticum turgidum (rivet wheat) in the emmer group. The Hebrew word kusemeth probably refers to a type of emmer wheat that the Egyptians called swt.
Wheat is a type of grass like rice and barley, growing to around 75 centimeters (2.5 feet) in height and having a head with many small grains in rows.
Bread made from wheat was the staple food for the people of ancient Israel, so God punished them by breaking “the staff of bread” (see, for example, Ezekiel 4:16).
If wheat is unfamiliar, translators can transliterate from a major language in non-rhetorical contexts (for example, English witi, Portuguese trigo, French ble or froment, Swahili ngano, Arabic kama/alkama). The transliteration may add a generic tag such as “grain.” The New Testament passages are mostly rhetorical, opening the possibility for a metaphorical equivalent.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 6:13:
Kupsabiny: “The people of Beth-shemesh were in the lower zone harvesting wheat. When those people saw the Box of God, their stomachs (hearts) rejoiced.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “At that time it happened that the people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they rejoiced greatly.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Back-then/at-that-time, the-one from-Bet Shemesh were-harvesting wheat in the valley/on the plains. When they saw the Box of the Agreement, they (were) very happy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “At that time, the people of Beth-Shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley outside the city. When the cows came along the road, they looked up and saw the sacred chest. They were extremely happy to see it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Now the people of Beth-shemesh: literally “And Beth-shemesh.” It will be necessary in most languages to say the people of Beth-shemesh. Now translates the common Hebrew conjunction waw, which serves here to introduce a new scene in the story.
The word reaping may be rendered “harvesting” (Revised English Bible), “gathering” (Anchor Bible). But some languages may have a special word for “cutting [grain].”
Wheat harvest: the wheat harvest took place in the spring of the year, between April and June (see also comments on 12.17).
In the valley: in some languages there is no specific word for valley, so this may have to be translated “in the low places” or “the place where hills meet.”
The expression lifted up their eyes is a Hebrew idiom that means simply “they looked up” from the work that they had been doing. In many cases it is wise to avoid a literal rendering of this expression. Compare Exo 14.10; Matt 17.8.
They rejoiced to see it: New Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint here: “they went with rejoicing to meet it” (so also New Jerusalem Bible). But translators are advised to translate the traditional text as represented in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The problem is not mentioned in Hebrew Old Testament Text Project.
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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