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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
Here, shite (して) or “do” is used in combination with itadaku (いただく), a humble form of the benefactive morau (もらう). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Long ago the majestic cedars of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) completely covered the upper slopes of the Lebanon Mountains on the western and northern sides. Now only a few pockets of these mighty cedars remain. At that time they were mixed, as they are today, with other trees such as Cilician fir, Grecian juniper, cypress, and Calabrian pine.
We know from 1 Kings that Solomon used cedar wood in his palace and in the Temple. Cedar was used for beams, boards, pillars, and ceilings. Historians tell us that the Assyrians also hauled cedars to their land for use in buildings. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon also imported cedars from Lebanon. In some versions of Isaiah we read that people made idols of cedar and oak (44:14-20). Finally, when the Temple was rebuilt by the returning exiles (Ezra 3:7), they again cut down cedar trees to grace the house of God.
In 2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles and Ezra, when Lebanon is specifically mentioned, there can be no doubt that ’erez is Cedrus libani, the “cedar of Lebanon,” although it is possible that sometimes the word was used loosely to include various evergreen trees.
In the description of the purification rituals (Leviticus 14:4 at al.), the word ’erez probably refers to the Phoenician juniper tree, since that was the only cedar-like tree in the Sinai Desert.
Cedar trees can reach 30 meters (100 feet) high with a trunk more than 2 meters (7 feet) in diameter. The leaves of true cedars are not flat like those of most trees, but consist of tufts of dark green, shiny spines. (The cedars in North America have a flatter type of spine than the biblical cedar.) The wood is fragrant and resistant to insects. Cedars bear cones and can live to be two or three thousand years old.
The cedar of Lebanon is famous for its large size (see Isaiah 2:13 et al.), and for the fragrance of its wood. Psalm 92:12 links the cedar to righteousness, that is, presumably, to its straightness and height above other trees. The cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon.
Cedrus species are found in the mountains of North Africa, in the Himalayas, in India, and in North America. Translators in these places, should, of course, use the local name in nonfigurative references. In sub Saharan Africa, translators can transliterate from Hebrew (’erez), Greek (kedar), English (sedar), or another major language, or they can take a generic solution such as “large, beautiful tree.” In poetic passages (wisdom literature and prophecy), some translators may wish to use a cultural equivalent with these traits. In Africa, according to Burkhill (The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, volume 4. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens, 1985), the Pink Mahogany Guarea cedrata is also called the pink African cedar because of the cedar-like scent of its timber. Likewise, some people in India and Australia use “cedar” to refer to the toon because of its reddish wood. I do not recommend such substitutes in historical passages, since the ’erez is not related to these trees. In some figurative passages, however, the substitution could be effective, since all are large trees with reddish wood. However, each passage has to be evaluated to determine the intended effect of the image.
Solomon’s message to King Hiram of Tyre begins here and continues through verse 10. Contemporary English Version indents the entire message to help readers easily see the extent of the quotation. Likewise, Contemporary English Version indents all of Hiram’s reply in verses 11-16. Translators may wish to consider using this format in their own language.
And Solomon sent word to Huram the king of Tyre: Instead of sent word, the Hebrew has only the verb “sent” with no direct object, but this verb introduces the rather long quotation. It will be better rendered in some languages as “sent messengers” (La Bible du Semeur), “sent this message” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Moffatt), or “sent … the following message” (Bible en français courant).
For Huram the king of Tyre, see the comments on 1 Chr 14.1. Huram is the spelling in most Hebrew manuscripts. Some translations (Good News Translation, New International Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), in agreement with the Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate, spell this name “Hiram,” because it is written that way in other passages where this king of Tyre is mentioned (see 2 Sam 5.11; 1 Kgs 5.1; 1 Chr 14.1). The spelling “Hiram” also serves to distinguish this king from the artisan who was important in the actual building of the Temple and whose name is also written “Huram” or sometimes “Huramabi” (2 Chr 2.13; 4.16). The Phoenician form of his name was Ahiram.
As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me: See 1 Chr 14.1. The Hebrew verb translated dealt with and deal with is the common verb meaning “to do” or “to make,” so a more literal translation would read “As you did to/for David … do to/for me.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “Do as you did for my father David….” But this very general meaning is clarified when Solomon adds sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in. Others have translated this verb as “Do business with” (Good News Translation) and “collaborate with” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Sent is a literal translation of the Hebrew. According to 1 Kgs 5, David paid Hiram for the cedar wood. This is apparently the reason for the Good News Translation rendering “sold.” For cedar see the comments on 1 Chr 14.1. Good News Translation says “cedar logs” for clarity (so also NET Bible). Since David was a king, many versions render house as “palace” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt) or “royal residence” (Revised English Bible).
The clause so deal with me is not actually in the Hebrew text, but it is implied in the structure that begins with As you dealt with David my father….Revised Standard Version and most other versions have added this clause as the sense requires. Nouvelle version Segond révisée places the implied clause in parentheses at the beginning of the sentence instead of coming after the comparison with David, and this may be the more logical position to place this implied information in certain other languages. Rather than adding words as Revised Standard Version has done, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh simply uses a long dash at the end of the verse to show that the thought has not been completed. For the same reason Osty-Trinquet ends the verse with three dots.
If it seems more natural to restructure this whole sentence, Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie provide a possible model, saying “You furnished cedar logs to my father David so that he could build his palace. Do the same for me.” New Century Version has “Help me as you helped my father David. You sent him cedar logs so he could build himself a palace to live in.”
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 .
2:3a Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre:
This is the message Solomon sent to Hiram king of Tyre: -or-
King Solomon sent messengers to King Hiram the king of Tyre. ⌊This is what they said to him⌋ :
2:3b “Do for me as you did for my father David
“Send me the wood of cedar trees as you (sing) did for David, my father. -or-
“⌊In the past,⌋ you sent my father King David wood of cedar trees. Send some to me too.
2:3c when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in.
⌊You did this⌋ when he was building his palace. -or-
When he was building a royal house to live in, you sent him this wood.
2:3b–c (reordered)
“You sent cedar wood to my King David my father so that he could build his palace. Do the same for me.
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