the Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated with “sword” in English is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “machete that is sharp on two sides,” in Lalana Chinantec as “machete” and in San Mateo del Mar Huave as “knife.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave to Judas a golden sword, and as he gave it he addressed him thus: Before quoting Jeremiah’s words, it may help the reader to be reminded that Judas is here telling of his dream. Possible models for this verse are:
• Judas told his men that in his dream Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave Judas a sword made of gold, and that Jeremiah said….
• Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave Judas a sword made of gold. And Judas told his men that when he handed him the sword, Jeremiah said….
• In this dream Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave me a sword made of gold. As he gave it to me, he said….
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.
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