complete verse (Joshua 21:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 21:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Anathoth and Almon.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Anathoth and Almon — four cities with grazing lands.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Anatot, and Almon, including their pasturelands.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Anathoth, and Almon. Those cities were in the area that had been allotted to the tribe of Benjamin.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 21:17 - 21:19

Verses 17-18 name four cities from the territory of Benjamin. Verse 17 may be stated, “They were given four cities from the territory of Benjamin. These cities were…”

Verse 19 may adequately be shortened: “This made a total of thirteen cities, together with their pasture lands.” Or, if the full content of the verse is retained: “The priests, the descendants of Aaron, were given thirteen cities in all, with their pasture lands.”

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 21:18

21:18

Anathoth: The town of Anathoth has not been mentioned previously. It was northeast of Jerusalem.

and Almon: The town of Almon has not been mentioned previously. It was northeast of Anathoth.

four cities: The phrase four cities indicates that there were four towns in all that were given to the descendants of Aaron from the clan of Benjamin.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

Anathoth and the grazing lands around it, and Almon and the grazing lands around it. These four towns were given from the clan of Benjamin.
-or-
Anathoth and its grasslands, and Almon and its grasslands. The clan of Benjamin gave four towns to the descendants of Aaron.

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