19Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).
Norm Mundhenk tells this story:
“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”
In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
The name that is transliterated as “Amon” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts forsaking God and blasphemy, because “he was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done” (2 Kings 21:20). (Source: Missão Kophós )
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 21:19:
Kupsabiny: “Amon had/was twenty-two years when he began to rule the country of Judah. He ruled from the city of Jerusalem for two years. His mother was called Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz who was from the village of Jotbah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king He reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth, daughter of Haruz. She was from Jotbah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Amon was 22 years old when he became king of Juda. He stayed/lived in Jerusalem, and he reigned for a period/[lit. inside] of two years. His mother was Meshulemet the child/(daughter) of Haruz who comes-from-Jotba.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled Judah from Jerusalem for only two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth. She was from Jotbah town, and was the granddaughter of Haruz.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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