33Hezekiah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him on the ascent to the tombs of the descendants of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. His son Manasseh succeeded him.
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)
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)
The Hebrew, Greek, and Latin that is transliterated as “Hezekiah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “king” and “facing the wall” referring to Isaiah 38:2. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that signifies a model, a parameter for his life, referring to “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his ancestor David had done” of 2 Kings 18:3. (Source: Missão Kophós )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 32:33:
Kupsabiny: “Then Hezekiah died and was buried on the upper side of where the descendants of David were buried. All the people of Judah and of Jerusalem respected him. Then, his son who was called Manasseh ruled replacing him.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Hezekiah died, he was buried in the tomb of the descendants of David. When he died all the people of Judah and Jerusalem honored him greatly. After him his son Manasseh became king.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “When Hezekia died, he was buried on the upper part of the burial-place of the descendants of David. He was honored by all the people of Juda and Jerusalem when he died. And his child Manase was-the-one-who succeeded him as king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “When Hezekiah died, he was buried in the tombs where the most respected kings of Judah were buried. Everyone in Jerusalem and other places in Judah honored him. Then his son Manasseh became the king.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The account of Hezekiah’s reign is concluded here by another common formula used to summarize the reign of most of the kings of Israel and Judah. It refers to his death, burial, and successor.
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: For slept with his fathers, see the comments on 2 Chr 9.31.
And they buried him: The subject of the verb buried is indefinite but may be translated “his people.”
In the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David: New Revised Standard Version changes the translation to read “on the ascent to the tombs….” The Hebrew noun translated ascent can mean “approach,” that is, “at the approach to the tombs…” (New American Bible); or it can mean “upper section,” that is, “in the upper section of the tombs…” (New Jerusalem Bible; similarly Good News Translation). It is not exactly clear what the Hebrew means here. Perhaps the sense is simply that the tombs were located on a “hill” (New International Version). However, other interpreters have suggested that the Hebrew refers more to a special place of honor rather than to a geographical location. This latter understanding is the basis for the Contemporary English Version rendering, which is “in the section of the royal tombs that was reserved for the most respected kings.” The sons of David here does not refer to David’s own biological sons but rather to his descendants who were kings, so Good News Translation renders the tombs of the sons of David as “the royal tombs.”
And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death; that is, they showed him great respect at the time of his burial. This clause may be rendered “and everyone in Jerusalem and the rest of Judah honored him when he died.”
And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead: For reigned in his stead, see the comments on 1 Chr 19.1 and 2 Chr 9.31.
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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