Absalom (image)

Hand colored stencil print on momigami by Sadao Watanabe (1972).

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe.

For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

See also Absalom.

Absalom

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)


“Absalom” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Absalom (image).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Absalom .

complete verse (2 Samuel 17:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 17:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “He has today hidden himself in a cave or some place. So, if they attack us by surprise and kill some of us, the people who will hear that will say that, ‘David has destroyed the people of Absalom.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “By this time he may have hidden in a cave or in some other place. Even if David makes his first attack on your soldiers, those who hear of it will speak like this, ‘All Absalom’s soldiers have been destroyed.’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Maybe at this time he is-hiding in a cave or in other places. If in your (plur.) first fight some of your soldiers will-die, those who-can-hear this will-say that your soldiers were- already -defeated.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Right now he is probably already hiding in one of the pits, or in some other place. If his soldiers start to attack your soldiers, and if they kill some of them, whoever hears about that will say ‘Many of the soldiers with Absalom have been killed!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 17:9

Behold: the Hebrew focusing particle reflected by this translation is left out in certain English versions, including New Revised Standard Version and New International Version. But in those languages which have a natural equivalent that directs particular attention to what follows, this should be used here.

One of the pits: as indicated in most English versions (including New International Version and New American Bible), this may refer to one of the many caves to be found in the area. It is true that the word used here is not the usual one for “cave,” which is found in 23.13 and 1 Sam 13.6, but in many languages the same word will be used for “pit,” “hole,” and “cave.” The Hebrew word used here normally refers to a hole that goes down into the ground and not a hole that goes back into the wall of a mountain or side of a hill.

When some of the people fall: literally “and there will be as a falling upon them,” that is, when some soldiers die. It should be made clear in translation that what is involved here is the death of fighting men. A literal translation will risk making this obscure. Further, it should be clear whose soldiers are “falling.” Compare Moffatt, “When he attacks your troops and some of them fall at the first onset….” Since Hushai is speaking as if he were part of Absalom’s people, translators may also say “If at the beginning some of our troops fall….”

The direct quotation at the end of this verse may be made indirect in those languages where this will sound more natural. Since it is found within the larger direct quotation, it may be quite awkward if translated literally and directly. A possible option is to translate as in Good News Translation, or “whoever hears it will say that David has devastated your followers.”

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 .