11They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders, and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin.
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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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.”
They gave it to the carpenters and the builders: The pronoun They refers to the supervisors of the Temple reconstruction. The money they gave to the Temple repair workers was not a gift since what follows explains how the money was to be spent, so New Living Translation begins this verse with “They hired….” The Hebrew noun rendered carpenters refers to “craftsmen” in general. In some contexts (for example, 2 Sam 5.11), it refers to craftsmen who work with wood. In other contexts (for example, 1 Sam 13.19, where it is rendered “smith”), it refers to craftsmen who work with metal. Here, as in 2 Chr 24.12, this noun refers to craftsmen who work with wood. The Hebrew word for builders is a general term used for the other workers involved in the reconstruction of the Temple.
To buy quarried stone, and timber for binders and beams for the buildings: Quarried stone refers to stones that have been prepared for use in building by cutting them into the desired shapes and sizes necessary for the job at hand. This type of stone is referred to in other translations as “dressed stone[s]” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt), “hewn stone” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, An American Translation), “squared stone” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or “cut stone” (New Century Version). Timber is literally “trees.” Many languages have no special word for timber, so it may be necessary to speak of “trees,” “cut trees,” or “large pieces of wood.” For the Hebrew word rendered binders, see the comments on 1 Chr 22.3, where it is rendered “clamps.” Here it probably refers to braces that joined two boards together. New International Version says “joists,” NET Bible has “braces,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses “couplings.” For the wooden beams used in construction, see the discussion in WTH, pages 138-140|fig:WTH.3.1.5.3.Crossbeam, rafter.138-140.html. Buildings translates the Hebrew noun for “houses.” Here, as in 1 Chr 28.11, the noun may refer to chambers that were part of the Temple. However, nearly all the versions say “buildings.”
Which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin: No specific kings of Judah are named, but the writer probably had in mind Ahaz, Manasseh, and Amon. Instead of saying simply the kings of Judah, which may imply all the kings in some languages, it may be better in those cases to say “certain kings of Judah,” since not all of them had failed to take care of the Temple buildings. The Hebrew verb translated had let go to ruin has both an active and a passive sense. In some contexts it means “to destroy” or “to ruin deliberately,” so An American Translation and La Bible Pléiade say “had destroyed.” However, Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation give a more passive meaning here, suggesting that the kings had not actively destroyed the buildings but had rather neglected to take care of them. Contemporary English Version says they “had not taken care of” these buildings, while Revised English Bible indicates that they “had allowed [them] to fall into disrepair.”
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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