flat land

In Gbaya, the notion of flat, level land (tableland, beach, plain) is emphasized with the ideophone tɔyɛɛ.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (Joshua 13:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 13:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “It included Heshbon and all the cities in that raised area. those were: Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “all the way to Heshbon and all the cities of the plateau, Dibon, Bamoth-Baal, Beth-Baal-Meon,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It) also included Heshbon and all its towns/cities in the valley which are Dibon, Bamot Baal, Bet Baal Meon,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “It also included Heshbon city and all the nearby towns on the plain—Dibon, Bamioth-Baal, Beth-Baal-Meon,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 13:17 - 13:20

Heshbon (verse 17) was the capital city of King Sihon (see 12.2).

Of all the cities on the plateau (verses 17-20), the following have already appeared: Dibon (13.9) and Beth Jeshimoth (12.3), Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath (verse 18) appear also in 21.36-37; and Bethpeor (verse 20) may be the same as Peor in 22.17.

Verses 17-20 (actually 17-23) form a unit and may be handled in several ways. For example, the arrangement of Good News Translation may be followed, or it may be appropriate to print the names of the city in list form, one below the other. Or, on the basis of on the plateau (verse 17) and of the plateau (verse 21), one may translate “Their territory reached as far as the city of Heshbon. In this region lay the cities of Dibon, Bamoth Baal … 18 … 19 … 20 … 21 and the other cities of the plateau.” This restructuring would take in the text down through It included all the cities of the plateau of verse 21. Following that, a new sentence would begin, as will be indicated in the comments at verse 21.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:17

13:17a

to Heshbon: In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence. For example:

It included Heshbon

Heshbon: Heshbon was the capital city of King Sihon. You should translate the name of this town the same way you did in 13:10a.

13:17b

and all its cities on the plateau: The phrase and all its cities on the plateau indicates all the towns that Sihon king of the Amorites ruled. They were in the plateau or tableland that was near Medeba. These towns are listed in the following verses.

13:17c

including Dibon: Dibon was a large town that was captured by Israel (Numbers 21:30). Its name today is Dhiban and it is thirteen miles east of the Dead Sea and three and a half miles north of the Arnon Gorge.

Bamoth-baal: The term Bamoth-baal indicates the area northeast of the Dead Sea to which Balak took Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22:41). Bamoth-baal is not a town, but an area or a region.

Here is another way to spell this name:

Bamoth Baal (New International Version, NET Bible)

Beth-baal-meon: The term Beth-baal-meon indicates a town that was twenty-three miles southwest of Amman, Jordan, and ten miles east of the Dead Sea. Its name today is Ma’in.

Here is another way to spell the name of this town:

Beth Baal Meon (New International Version, NET Bible)

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