complete verse (Joshua 19:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 19:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “That land of the clan of Simeon included/enveloped these cities: Beersheba, Moladah,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It included these cities —
    Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This includes Beersheba (or Sheba), Molada,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Their land included the towns of Beersheba (which is also named Sheba), Moladah,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 19:1 - 19:6

For the translation of the first sentence of this verse, see the proposed restructuring at 18.11. One may also translate “The second lot fell to the tribe of Simeon.”

Its territory extended into the land assigned to the tribe of Judah is more literally “And its inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah.” This appears to be a more accurate representation of the text, especially in light of verse 9, which states that the tribe of Simeon was given a part of the territory within the land of Judah, because Judah had been given more land then it needed. Accordingly, one may translate “Its territory lay within the territory of the tribe of Judah.”

In verse 2 the second name in Hebrew is Sheba. This, however, seems like an accidental repetition of the second part of the name of the preceding city, Beersheba, and makes a total of fourteen place-names, whereas verse 6 gives the total as thirteen. Consequently New English Bible (with a footnote that refers to the lack of this name in 1 Chr 4.18) omits Sheba; Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible and Hebrew Old Testament Text Project revise the Hebrew to “Shema” (see 15.26); Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible follow the Masoretic text. It seems best to follow the Masoretic text here.

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 19:2

19:2

and included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah: The towns listed in verses 2–6 were in the south part of the land that belonged to the clan of Judah.

Beersheba: There is also an interpretation issue with the word Beersheba.

(1) Sheba is another name for the town of Beersheba. For example:

Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, King James Version)

(2) Sheba is a different town. It is not the same town as Beersheba. For example:

Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah (English Standard Version)

(English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with many English versions. There is a similar list of the towns that belonged to the clan of Simeon in 1 Chronicles 4:28. That list does not include the town of Sheba. Moreover, if Sheba is counted as an independent town in this list, the total number of towns would come to fourteen, rather than thirteen, as stated in verse 6. Because of this, many Bible scholars consider the term Sheba to be an alternative name for the town of Beersheba.

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

They received the following towns as its permanent possession: Beersheba, which is also called Sheba, and Moladah
-or-
The land that was assigned to them included the following towns: Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah

Sheba: There is a textual issue with the word Sheba.

(1) The text should say Sheba. This follows the Masoretic Text.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Good News Translation, King James Version)

(2) The text should say Shema. This follows the Septuagint, and it also agrees with Joshua 15:26.

(New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This is the reading of most English versions, and is supported by many commentaries.

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