complete verse (Joshua 21:35)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 21:35:

  • Kupsabiny: “Dimnah and Nahalal together with where one cold graze (animals).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Dimnah and Nahalal: four cities along with grazing land for their cattle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The remaining descendants of Levi — the descendants of Merari — received four towns/cities from the land[s] of the tribe of Zebulun. These were the Jokneam, Karta, Dimna, and Nahalal, including their pasturelands.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Dimnah, and Nahalal.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 21:34 - 21:40

Twelve cities are assigned to the clan of Merari.

Four cities are in Zebulun (verses 34-35).In verse 35, instead of the Masoretic text Dimnah, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “Rimmonah” (as in 19.13); New English Bible Bible de Jérusalem Jerusalem Bible prefer “Rimmon.”

Four cities are in Reuben (verses 36-37). The first part of verse 36 in the Masoretic text is “and from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands” (see Revised Standard Version). The Septuagint (see also 1 Chr. 6.78) has “and on the east side of the Jordan, opposite Jericho, from the tribe of Reuben, one of the cities of refuge, Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau, with its pasture lands” (the passages in italics are not in the Masoretic text). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, rating its decision highly probable, takes this to be original and recommends its adoption (so Soggin; Bible de Jérusalem, New English Bible, New American Bible, and Jerusalem Bible include part of the Septuagint additional matter).

Four cities are in Gad (verses 38-39), one of which, Ramoth, was a city of refuge (see 20.9).

The translation of verses 34-39 should follow the pattern of verses 17-18, and the translation of verse 40 should follow that of verse 19. Although the phrase with their pasture lands is not found in verse 40, it may be introduced there by way of summary and omitted from its occurrences in the previous verses.

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 21:35

21:35

Dimnah: The town of Dimnah was probably the same town as was called “Rimmon” in 19:13.

and Nahalal: The town of Nahalal was mentioned in 19:15. Its location is unknown.

four cities: The phrase four cities indicates that the families of Merari received four towns in all from the clan of Zebulun.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

the town of Dimnah with the grazing lands around it and the town of Nahalal with the grazing lands around it. The families of Merari received four towns from the clan of Zebulun.
-or-
Dimnah with its grasslands and Nahalal with its grasslands. In all they received four towns.

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