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)
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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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.”
So Joash king of Israel went up: The common Hebrew conjunction is properly rendered So because what follows is the logical consequence of God’s decision to make Amaziah refuse Jehoash’s advice. The notion of upward movement in the verb phrase went up is not essential to the meaning, so it may be rendered “attacked” (New International Version, God’s Word), “advanced” (New American Bible), or simply “went.”
And he and Amaziah faced one another in battle …: Faced one another in battle is literally “saw each other’s faces.” This is the same expression as in verse 17. Here it may be rendered “met in battle” (New American Bible) or “clashed” (Revised English Bible).
At Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah: Four different towns are referred to in the Old Testament by the name Beth-shemesh. Two were in the territory of the northern tribes of Issachar (Josh 19.22) and Naphtali (Josh 19.38), and the third was in Egypt (Jer 43.13; called “Heliopolis” in Revised Standard Version). The Beth-shemesh mentioned here was a town on the northwest border of Judah (see Josh 15.10; 21.16). Originally it was in the territory of the tribe of Dan and also called Ir-Shemesh (Josh 19.41). It was about 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of Jerusalem. The writer underlines the fact that this town was within the realm of Judah. Most battles in the Old Testament between the northern and southern kingdoms took place further north in the hill country.
The context makes it clear that Amaziah and Jehoash did not go alone to battle. Rather, they both went with their armies. This may be made explicit in translation, as New Living Translation has done by rendering the whole verse as follows:
• So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in 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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