1In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, King Baasha of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah to prevent anyone from going out or coming into the territory of King Asa of Judah.
The name that is transliterated as “Asa” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts the concept of order and mandates. As the third king of Judah, Asa ordered the destruction of the altars, he took the cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made (see 1 Kings 15:11 and following). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 16:1:
Kupsabiny: “And when it was the thirty-sixth year that Asa was ruling, the king of Israel who was called Baasha went to war against the land of Judah. Baasha started to renew the city of Ramah to be guarded/protected so that (he/it) could prevent people so that no person could go to or come from the land of Judah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “In the 36th year of Asa’s becoming king of Judah, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah. Then he reinforced Ramah, thinking, May no one come or go to Asa, King of Judah’s place.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “In the 36th year of the reign of Asa, King Baasha of Israel invaded/attacked Juda. And King Baasha started the strengthening/[lit. cause-to-be-strong/firm] of the town of Rama so-that no one can-go-out or can-go-inside in the territory of King Asa of Juda.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “When Asa had been ruling Judah for almost 36 years, King Baasha of Israel went with his army to attack Judah. They captured the town of Ramah north of Jerusalem and started to build a wall around it, in order to prevent any people from entering or leaving the area in Judah that was ruled by King Asa because the only road into Judah from Israel went through Ramah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))
Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah: The thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa was about 875 B.C. According to 1 Kgs 15.33, King Baasha died about ten years before this. In this context went up against may be rendered “invaded” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible), “attacked” ( NET Bible, New American Bible), or “marched on” (New Jerusalem Bible). The upward movement is incidental to the story and does not need to be highlighted in translation. Israel here refers to the northern kingdom, and Judah is the southern kingdom.
And built Ramah: Ramah was a town about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Jerusalem. It was located on an important road connecting Jerusalem and Shechem. It already existed so the Hebrew verb rendered built is better translated “fortified” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). For this whole clause NET Bible has “and he established Ramah as a military outpost.” The Hebrew text leaves implied that Baasha first captured the town of Ramah before he was able to begin fortifying it. Contemporary English Version makes this information explicit by saying “and captured the town of Ramah. He started making the town stronger.”
That he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah is literally “to not allow to go out or to come in to Asa….” The Hebrew expression indicates purpose, and Revised Standard Version has added the words no one as English requires. The expression to go out or come in is to be understood rather literally here. Baasha put up a blockade that prevented people from entering or leaving the territory of Judah. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says the purpose was “to block all movement,” and New American Bible has “to prevent any communication.” The purpose of the blockade may have been to cut off trade and communication as well as to prevent northerners from going to Jerusalem to worship. For this whole clause New Revised Standard Version has “to prevent anyone from going out or coming into the territory of King Asa of Judah.” Revised English Bible is similar with “to prevent anyone leaving or entering the kingdom of Asa of Judah.”
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 .
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