6and Baalath, as well as all Solomon’s storage towns, and all the towns for his chariots, the towns for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon desired to build, in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
Chichicapan Zapotec: “ox cart” (in Acts 8) (ox carts are common vehicles for travel) (source: Loren Bliese)
Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
HausaCommon Language Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 8:6:
Kupsabiny: “He also renewed the city of Baalath and all his cities of granaries/supplies. He also renewed the cities where the carts of his horses and his people who went/rode on those horses were staying. He also built all other things that he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon and everywhere he was ruling.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then Solomon built Balath and all his storage cities and all the cities to put his horses and chariots.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “This-is also what he did to Balaat and to the other cities/towns which (are) the-place-to-put his storage-rooms/buildings, chariots and horses. He built all what he wanted to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land which (is) under- his -jurisdiction.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “They also rebuilt Baalath town and all the cities where supplies were kept and the cities where Solomon’s chariots and horses were kept. Solomon’s workers built whatever he wanted them to build, in Jerusalem and in Lebanon, and in other places in the area that he ruled.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And Baalath …: Baalath was a city located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Jerusalem. It was in the coastal region of the territory originally given to the tribe of Dan (see Josh 19.44). The verb “built” is implied from the previous verse. Here it has the sense of “rebuilt” since this city existed before the time of Solomon. In many languages it may be better to repeat the verb here and begin a new sentence by saying “He also rebuilt the town of Baalath…” (New Century Version).
For store-cities see the comments on 2Chr 8.4.
And all the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen: In English cities usually refer to large populated areas, and “towns” refer to smaller locations. In the time of Solomon these cities were relatively small, so New Revised Standard Version uses the word “towns” rather than cities. For chariots and horsemen, see the comments on 1 Chr 18.4 and 2 Chr 1.14. Since the Hebrew word for horsemen can refer to horses or charioteers, a good rendering for this whole part of the verse is “and all the towns for his chariots, horses, and charioteers.”
And whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem: Other renderings include “He built everything he desired in Jerusalem” (New Living Translation) and “Solomon had his workers build whatever he wanted in Jerusalem” (Contemporary English Version).
Lebanon: See the comments on 2 Chr 2.8.
In all the land of his dominion may be rendered “throughout all his realm” (An American Translation), “throughout his entire realm” (New Living Translation), or “in all the land submitted to his authority” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).
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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