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 Kings 14:19:
Kupsabiny: “But a rebellion/plot was made to have Amaziah killed in Jerusalem. Then Amaziah fled to Lachish, but some people were sent to follow him to that place of Lachish. Those (people) killed him there.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “In Jerusalem they laid a trap for him. So he escaped to Lachish. But they also sent men there and they killed him there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “There was some people before who planned to kill Amazia in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lakish. But they had- him -followed to Lakish, and killed him there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Some people in Jerusalem plotted against Amaziah, so he fled to Lachish city. But they followed him there and killed him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
They made a conspiracy against him: The pronoun they is indefinite and may be translated “some people” (Contemporary English Version, Hobbs) or by some other general expression since the lack of precision is intentional. New Century Version says “The people in Jerusalem,” but this is not recommended because it may give the impression that perhaps all the people of Jerusalem were involved in the coup attempt. In languages that would naturally use a passive construction in this context, the following model of New American Bible, Revised English Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh may be helpful: “a conspiracy was formed against him.”
For made a conspiracy, see 2 Kgs 12.20, where the same expression is used. Good News Translation makes explicit the fact that the plot was not just to remove Amaziah from power, but to kill him. This may be a good model for other languages to follow.
Lachish was a large city that included a significant military force. It was about 45 kilometers (28 miles) southwest of Jerusalem and 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of Hebron. It would have been a possible place of refuge for the king in the face of an uprising against him in his capital city. It will be important in most languages to add a classifier word like “city.”
They sent after him: The pronoun they refers to the same indefinite enemies as in the beginning of the verse. Revised English Bible has “the conspirators” as the subject of this clause. The meaning of the clause may be more clearly rendered as “he was pursued” (New American Bible) or “he was followed” (New Jerusalem Bible) if the passive form is a realistic option. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “they sent men after him,” indicating that the leaders of the coup did not make the journey themselves, but rather sent their subordinates.
New Revised Standard Version, like most modern versions, replaces the archaic verb slew with the more up-to-date word “killed.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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