In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).
Norm Mundhenk tells this story:
“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”
In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 24:1:
Kupsabiny: “Joash began to rule having seven years, and he ruled in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother was called Zibiah and she came from Beersheba.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Joash was seven years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem 40 years. His mother’s name was Zibiah from the city of Beersheba.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Joash was 7 years old when he reigned. He lived in Jerusalem, and he reigned within the (period) of 40 years. His mother was Zibia who of/from-Beerseba.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Joash was seven years old when he became the king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 40 years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba city.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Joash was seven years old …: This verse follows the common formula that is used to summarize the reign of a ruler of Israel or Judah by stating his age when he took over (seven years old), the length of his reign (forty years), his capital (Jerusalem), his mother’s name (Zibiah), and her origin (Beer-sheba). See the comments on 2 Chr 13.2.
In the parallel text of 2 Kgs 12.1 the longer form of the name Joash is a used, which is “Jehoash.” In order to avoid confusion, the shorter form should be used throughout the Bible when referring to the king of Judah with this name. The king of Israel bearing the same name would then be referred to consistently as “Jehoash,” using the longer form of the name (so Good News Translation). In this way readers will be better able to distinguish between the two rulers.
Since Joash began reigning when he was seven years old, this means the events in 2 Chr 22.11-12 took place when he was only a year old.
The city of Beer-sheba was located in the southern part of Judah (see the comments on 1 Chr 4.28). Good News Translation and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje make it explicit that this place was a city.
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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