15The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were in their place according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and the king’s seer Jeduthun. The gatekeepers were at each gate; they did not need to interrupt their service, for their kindred the Levites made preparations for them.
The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is transliterated “Levites” in English (only the Contemporary English Version translates it as “temple helpers”) is translated in Ojitlán Chinantec as “temple caretakers,” Yatzachi Zapotec as “people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of the Israelites,” in Alekano as “servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place,” and in Tenango Otomi as “helpers of priests.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
In American Sign Language with a sign that combines “temple” + “servant.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Levite” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 35:15:
Kupsabiny: “The singers that hailed from the house of Asaph were where they had been assigned according to the plans of David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, the one who was showing the king the words that God says. The guards at the gates were on guard as it was required. They did not abandon their work because the other Levites had prepared for them the Festival of Passover.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “The singers, that is to say the descendants of Asaph, however, took their places according to the rules decided upon by David, Asaph, and Jeduthun the king’s prophet. All the gate guards were standing at their own main gates. They did not need to leave the work of guarding their respective gates because their relatives, the Levites, did their preparations for them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The musicians who were-descendants of Asaf (were)-there in their assigned-places/post in the temple, according to the rules which David, Asaf, Heman, and Jedutun the prophet of the king had-given. The guards of each gates of the temple did- not -leave their assigned-places/post for their fellow Levites were the-(ones-who) prepared their food.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “The musicians, who were descendants of Asaph, stood in their places, as King David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s prophet had commanded. The men who guarded the gates of the temple did not need to leave their places, because their fellow descendants of Levi prepared food for them to eat.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Ge’ez, 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.”
The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place: The Hebrew participle translated singers may also be rendered “musicians” (Good News Translation), since 1 Chr 25 indicates that these singers played musical instruments, but the idea of singing is definitely a major aspect of the meaning in this Hebrew verb (see the comments on 1 Chr 6.33). In this context the sons of Asaph refers to “the descendants of Asaph” (New International Version).
According to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, the king’s seer: See 1 Chr 25.1. The men mentioned here assigned the places given to the musicians. The king in this context refers to David. For seer see the comments on 1 Chr 9.22. Nearly all Hebrew manuscripts read the king’s seer, which refers to Jeduthun. However, a couple of Hebrew manuscripts, as well as the ancient versions, have the plural, “the king’s seers,” referring also to Asaph and Heman (so Revised English Bible). The plural fits well with passages such as 1 Chr 25.5, which refers to Heman as “the king’s seer,” and 2 Chr 29.30, which refers to Asaph as “the seer.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament notes that it fits the style of the Chronicler to use a form which appears singular but which is followed by a plural noun. So Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the form in the Masoretic Text, and notes that it is not possible to know whether the author intended for the form to refer to Jeduthun alone or to all three men.
And the gatekeepers were at each gate: The gatekeepers refers to the Levites who guarded the Temple gates. See the comments on 1 Chr 9.17.
They did not need to depart from their service: The pronoun they probably refers to the Temple musicians and gatekeepers. This clause may be rendered “They didn’t need to leave their work” (God’s Word).
For their brethren the Levites prepared for them: Their brethren the Levites may be rendered “their fellow Levites” (New International Version) or simply “the other Levites” (Good News Translation). As in the previous verse, the Hebrew verb translated prepared has no stated object. Here Good News Translation supplies “the Passover,” and Moffatt adds “the meat.”
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 .
35:15a The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations
The musicians were the descendants of Asaph. They stood in their places -or-
The people who made music were also at their positions. They were grandchildren of Asaph.
35:15b according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer.
following the instructions of King David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king’s prophet. -or-
They did that according to what King David and Heman and Jeduthun had commanded. Jeduthun was the messenger of God to the king.
35:15c And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their position,
The gatekeepers stood at all the gates. They did not need to leave their places -or-
There were some Levites who guarded the temple’s gates. They were able to stand there all the time
35:15d because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.
because the Levites their brothers prepared ⌊food⌋ for them. -or-
because their brothers the Levites had prepared ⌊everything⌋ for them.
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