complete verse (2 Samuel 2:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 2:30:

  • Kupsabiny: “When Joab had left Abner, he gathered his people and counted (them). Then he found out that nineteen of David’s people were not there without counting Asahel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joab stopped pursuing Abner and gathered his troops in one place. He then learned, that besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were missing [lit.: were less].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When- Joab -stopped chasing Abner, he and his men also went-home. When he gathered them, he found-out that beside Asahel, 19 have-died among them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joab and his soldiers stopped pursuing Abner. And when he gathered all his soldiers together, he found out that in addition to Asahel, only 19 of them had been killed in the battle.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:30

Returned from the pursuit: the use of the verb returned (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version) is misleading. The idea of the verb is not returning to a place, since none is stated. Rather in this context it means to “leave off” doing something. In this case it is the chasing of Abner and his men that is abandoned. New Jerusalem Bible translates “having stopped pursuing Abner.” And New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “after Joab gave up the pursuit of Abner….”

Gathered all the people: the word people is the general term that refers in this context to the army under the direction of Joab (as in verse 26). New International Version renders it “assembled all his men.”

As at the end of most battles, the armies then count their dead and make estimates of enemy losses. This accounts for the content of the remainder of this verse as well as the following one.

Besides Asahel: literally “and Asahel.” In some languages a literal translation of the Hebrew will be quite natural, but in other languages this may have to be expressed “if Asahel is not included” or “if you don’t count Asahel.”

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 .