Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 25:6:
Kupsabiny: “After that, Amaziah paid three thousand and four hundred (3,400) kilos of silver to request from Israel one hundred thousand men who were skilled in battle.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “By paying about 3,400 kilograms of silver he also took 100,000 soldiers from Israel.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “He also hired/[lit. took] 100,000 good soldiers from Israel. He paid 3,400 kilos of silver as salary/wage for these soldiers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Amaziah also hired 100,000 capable soldiers from Israel and paid almost four tons of silver for them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”
This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.
He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel …: Amaziah also hired 100,000 Israelite soldiers to make up one-fourth of his army. The verb hired stands in contrast to “mustered” in the previous verse. Those who were mobilized from Judah for war were expected to serve their country in this way. However, those who were hired from Israel had no such obligation, so they had to be paid for their service. They were mercenaries. For mighty men of valor, see the comments on 1 Chr 12.21. This phrase may be translated “gallant soldiers” (Moffatt) or “valiant warriors” (New American Bible). Israel here refers to “the kingdom of Israel” (Bible en français courant). La Bible du Semeur speaks even more specifically of “the kingdom of Israel to the north.”
A hundred talents of silver: For talents see the comments on 1 Chr 19.6. A hundred talents equals “about four tons” (Good News Translation) or “about 7,500 pounds” (New Living Translation). French versions use a somewhat different measuring system and speak of “about three tons” (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).
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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