The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “concubine” in English is translated in Kutu as “slave made to be his woman” or “female slave he married” and similarly in Makonde, “a slave who is/was a wife.”
In Kwere it is translated as “small wife.” This is the term for subsequent wives when polygamy is practiced among the Kwere. While they enjoy most of the same rights and privileges as the first wife, their status is not necessarily the same. In Kalanga it is likewise translated with balongwana or “small wife.” (Source for all: project-specific notes in Paratext)
In Newari it is translated as “illegitimate wife” (source: Newari Back Translation).
The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Absalom” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs depicting “hair + caught” referring to 2 Samuel 18:9. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 16:22:
Kupsabiny: “Then, a tent was spread/set up on the roof of that house which was being ruled from (the king’s palace) so that his father’s concubines could go in there (in the evening) while everyone were looking.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof terrace and he slept with his father’s concubines for all the Israelites to see.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “So they built a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace, and the people will-see that he goes-inside there to lie-down-beside/(had-sexual-relations-with) the wives of his father.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace. And Absalom went into the tent and had sex with his father’s slave wives, one by one, and everyone could see him going into the tent.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
So: it is not essential to translate the common conjunction here; but if it is overtly represented, the connection is more logical than temporal. The action was taken as a result of the advice given.
They: there is no clear referent for this pronoun. Rather it is a way of saying that some unknown or unnamed persons performed the action, following instructions from Absalom. Translators may say “someone” or “some people.” Or, following Contemporary English Version, it may be possible to begin by saying that “Absalom had a tent set up….” The passive form is used in certain modern versions (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), and this may be reproduced in those languages that have natural passives in such a context.
Pitched a tent … upon the roof: since it is unthinkable to put a tent on the roof of a house in many cultures, translators must take special care in rendering these words. While the original readers and hearers understood that the roof was flat, this information may have to be supplied in other cultures. New Century Version and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, for example, translate clearly “put up a tent on the flat roof of the palace.” The use of the word tent in this context suggests a bridal tent set up for newly married people (compare Psa 19.4).
Went in to his father’s concubines: the same expression as is used in verse 20, but here it is in the past tense. See the comments above.
In the sight of all Israel: this probably does not mean that all the people of Israel watched the actual act of sexual intercourse, but rather that they were able to see Absalom go into the tent on the palace roof with David’s concubines, and that they knew what would happen inside.
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 .
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