complete verse (Joshua 18:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 18:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then it turned heading towards the northern side of En-shemesh and headed on to Geliloth which looks towards the ridge of Adummim and went down to where the stone of Bohan son of Reuben was.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From there it turns toward the north and reaches the spring of En-Shemesh, comes out at Geliloth which is across from the pass of Adummim, and reaches and on to the stone of Bohan, son of Reuben.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This then turns/curves to-the-north towards En Shemesh up-to Gelilot which faces the ascent/going-up of Adumim. Then this goes-down to the Rock of Bohan the child/(son) of Reuben” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “From there the border extended west to En-Shemesh, and continued to Geliloth near Adummim Pass. Then it extended to the great stone of Reuben’s son Bohan.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 18:17

Enshemesh and Adummim Pass are mentioned at 15.7. Geliloth, mentioned only here in the Old Testament, is perhaps to be identified with Gilgal. The Stone of Bohan is mentioned at 15.6.

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 18:17

18:17a

From there it curved northward: This indicates that the southern border made a turn to the north at this point.

and proceeded to En-shemesh: En-shemesh is the name of a spring of water that was near Jerusalem. This spring was mentioned in Joshua 15:7. It is recommended that you translate it the same way as you did there.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then the border turned to the north and continued to the spring of En-shemesh
-or-
The boundary line then curved northward to En-shemesh Spring

18:17b

and on to Geliloth: The term Geliloth means “circle of stones” in Hebrew. It is not known where Geliloth was. It is uncertain whether or not Geliloth was a town.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

Geliloth
-or-
the circle of stones

facing the Ascent of Adummim: The Ascent of Adummim is a road that went up Adummim Mountain. This clause is the same as the one found in Joshua 15:7b. It is recommended that you translate it in the same way.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

From there it went on to the circle of stones across from the Pass of Adummim
-or-
Then it continued to Geliloth, which was across from the road that went up Adummim Mountain

18:17c

and continued down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben: The Stone of Bohan was mentioned in Joshua 15:6c. It is recommended that you translate it the same way as you did there.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then the border descended to the ⌊large⌋ stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben
-or-
The boundary continued ⌊to go east⌋ downhill to the stone of Bohan. Bohan was the son of Reuben.

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