The Hebrew, Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “Jordan” means “descending (rapidly),” “flowing down.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the river bordering Jordan and Israel, along with the general sign for river. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Jordan river” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 16:7:
Kupsabiny: “It went down to Ataroth, passed by Naarah and Jericho and reached the river Jordan.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then it comes down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah and by way of Jericho reaches the Jordan.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “And from Janoa (it) goes-down to Atarot and Naara, and passes-through Jerico towards the River Jordan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “From Michmethath on the north it extended east to Taanath and from there on to Janoah. From there it extended south to Ataroth city and to Naarah town. From there it extended to Jericho and from there to the Jordan River.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The northernmost city, Michmethath, is in 17.7 said to be east of Shechem; and Taanath Shiloh is located by Bright east of Michmethath. Janoah, Ataroth (not the same as Ataroth Addar), Naarah, and Jericho describe the eastern boundary, from north to south.
Tappuah and the stream Kanah are to be found in biblical maps. Kanah runs into the Mediterranean about 6 kilometers north of Jaffa.
Verse 9 specifies that some towns and villages, which are not identified, and which were inside West Manasseh’s territory, were allotted to Ephraim (see 17.8-9).
If verse 6-9 are combined, a more logical arrangement results:
• 6-9 and from there to the Mediterranean Sea. Their northern border began at the city of Taanath Shiloh and went westward to the city of Michmethath and then followed the stream Kanah to the Mediterranean Sea. From Michmethath the eastern border went south through the cities of Taanath Shiloh, Janoah, Ataroth, Naarah, and finally to the Jordan River at a point near Jericho. This territory, together with its cities and villages, lay within the territory of the tribe of Manasseh. But Joshua gave it to the tribe of Ephraim as its possession.
This represents a slightly different interpretation of the text than that of Good News Translation in verse 8b-9, but it does appear to represent more accurately the meaning of the Hebrew. To the families of the tribe of Ephraim (verse 8) has been shortened to “to the tribe of Ephraim.” But “at the city of Tannath Shiloh” may need further identification to indicate the movement of description from the Mediterranean Sea of the previous sentence: “… Taanath Shiloh on the edge of the Jordan Valley.”
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 .
From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah: The phrase From Janoah it went down to indicates that the town of Janoah is at a higher elevation than the other two towns.
Ataroth and Naarah: These towns are southeast of the town of Janoah. The town of Ataroth listed here is not the same town as that mentioned in verses 2 or 5.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
Then the border went down from Janoah to Ataroth, and on to Naarah -or-
Then the border went ⌊southeast⌋ to the town of Ataroth and on to the town of Naarah
16:7b
and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
It then went on to Jericho, and ended at the Jordan River -or-
The border reached the town of Jericho and then went on to end at the Jordan River
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