Absalom (image)

Hand colored stencil print on momigami by Sadao Watanabe (1972).

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe.

For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

See also Absalom.

Abijah / Abijam

The name that is transliterated as “Abijah” or “Abijam” in English means “God my Father” (Abijah) or “father of the sea,” “father of light (Abijam). (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel fighting 1 Kings 15:6 and following). The V-shaped hand also means that the heart is not upright and does the opposite (see 1 Kings 15:3). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Abijah / Abijam” in Libras (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

complete verse (2 Chronicles 11:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 11:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Rehoboam again married Maakah who was of the house of Absalom. Maakah bore to Rehoboam these sons: Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After that, He married Maacah, the daughter of Absalom. From her he had these offspring — Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Rehoboam also married Maaca the child of Absalom. Their sons were Abia, Atai, Ziza, and Shelomit.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Later Rehoboam married Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, and they had four sons: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:20

After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom: After her refers to after Rehoboam had married Mahalath. In some languages it may be important to give some kind of indication of the amount of time that passed between the marriage of Rehoboam to Mahalath and his subsequent marriage to Maacah. If translators are forced to make such a decision, it was probably a matter of months rather than days, but there is no way of being certain. Absalom was one of David’s sons, so Maacah and Rehoboam were both grandchildren of King David. For this whole clause New Living Translation says “Later Rehoboam married another cousin, Maacah, the daughter of Absalom.” Most likely Maacah was the granddaughter of Absalom by his only daughter Tamar (2 Sam 14.27), who was married to Uriel (2 Chr 13.2). The Hebrew noun translated daughter may also mean “granddaughter” (so Revised English Bible, Moffatt). It is also possible that the Absalom mentioned here is a different person and not one of David’s sons.

Who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith: According to Good News Translation, all four of these children were sons, but several women in the Old Testament have the name Shelomith (Lev 24.11; 1 Chr 3.19). Whether this Shelomith was a son or a daughter is simply not known. Verse 22 makes it clear that Abijah was a son.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .