14When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
The term that is transliterated as “Abram” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign signifying sojourning with a staff, clearly differentiating it from Abraham. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Abram” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Similarly, in Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign that demonstrates that he has to wander from his home. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)
“Abram” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 14:14:
Kankanaey: “When Abram came-to-know that his nephew Lot was among those captured (lit. had-been-captured-with), he called his long-time slaves who were skilled in warring so-that they would go pursue those who had run-off-with him. They all were three hundred and ten and eight. They pursued them until they caught-up-with them at Dan.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Having heard the report that his nephew Lot had been captured and taken away, [he] took along 318 servants who had been trained to fight, [and] pursued the enemy, overtaking [them] in Dan.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “When Abram heard that his nephew had-been-taken-captive, he then gathered his 318 men who could-be-trusted, who had-been-born in his camp. They pursued the four kings until Dan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “One of the men who escaped from the battle told Abram what had happened and that his nephew Lot had been captured and taken away. So Abram summoned 318 men who were his servants, men who had been with Abram since they were born. They all went together and pursued their enemies as far north as Dan city.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Verses 14-16 describe the action undertaken by Abram to rescue Lot, and so make up the second battle report.
When Abram heard that his kinsman: kinsman translates Hebrew “brother” but is used as a general kin term. See verse 13. If a general term such as relative or kinsman is lacking, it may be better to say “his nephew,” that is, “his brother’s son.”
Taken captive or “taken away prisoner” is passive and must often be expressed in an active way; for example, “heard that the kings had captured his nephew” or “learned that Lot was a prisoner of the kings.”
Led forth his trained men: led forth translates a word that means “he emptied out.” However, the same word in Hebrew spelled with the letter ד, “d,” instead of ר, “r” (a common copying error), means “to mobilize or muster.” The “d” form of the word is supported by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and most modern translations. Good News Translation “called together” is a common-language equivalent of “mustered.” In some languages we may say “he picked out, selected, organized.”
Trained men translates a term found only here and in some Egyptian texts, where it refers to “retainers” of a Palestinian chief. A retainer is someone who is kept on permanent duty and is loyal to his leader. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates the word as “confident servants.” We may also call them “faithful followers,” “loyal troops,” or “trusted soldiers.”
Men, born in his house: according to Speiser, this class of servants, in contrast with purchased slaves, were entrusted with various responsibilities. They were persons born and raised in Abram’s camp. Some interpreters have attributed a special meaning to three hundred and eighteen, which happens to be the numerical representation of the name Eliezer in 15.2. However, this is mere speculation.
Went in pursuit must often express an object, as in Good News Translation “and pursued the four kings,” or as in Bible en français courant “in pursuit of the enemy.” In some languages what happened may need to be expressed as two or more actions; for example, “they left and followed after the four kings.”
Dan in the far north of Canaan was east of Tyre (see the map on page 18) The town did not carry this name until it was captured by people of the tribe of Dan (Judges 18). In the Abram setting it would have been called Laish (Judges 18.29). If the narrative comes from the time of the Judges, Dan is appropriate. In either event the translator must translate it Dan, that is, “the town of Dan.” Some translations add the geographical information for the benefit of readers: “… as far as Dan, a long way off in the north.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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