complete verse (2 Samuel 10:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 10:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the Arameans saw that the soldiers of Israel had defeated them, they gathered themselves again.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by the Israelites, they gather troops again. Then King Hadadezer called additional Aramean’s soldiers who were east of the Euphrates. Then Shoback, [with] Hadadezer’s commanding general being the leader, [they] proceeded to Helam.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When- the Arameanhon -realized that they were-defeated by the Israelinhon, they gathered-together again.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After the leaders of the army of Syria saw that the Israeli army had defeated them, they gathered all their troops together.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 10:15

But: the common Hebrew conjunction here may be translated But, since it marks a turning point in the story, and what follows may be seen as somewhat contrary to the expectations of the reader or hearer. Others may prefer to follow the example of New International Version, making the first part of this verse into a temporal clause, “After the Arameans [Syrians] saw [or, realized]…,” without any overt transition marker. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates similarly. Still other versions make this a completely independent sentence (New Century Version and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, for example).

Had been defeated by Israel: this passive expression may be made active by saying something like “Israel had defeated them.”

Gathered themselves together: the idea here is that of bringing all the Syrian military forces together in one place. This may be conveyed by using a verb like “assembled” or “united,” but in some languages it will have to be made clearer how this assembly came about, since it was not by accident. It is most likely that the leaders issued a call to the entire military force, who in turn gathered together. In addition to Good News Translation above, some possible models are “the leaders reassembled all their forces,” “they regrouped their forces” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and “so they came together again in one big army” (New Century Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .