complete verse (Joshua 21:39)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 21:39:

  • Kupsabiny: “Heshbon and Jazer together with where one could graze (animals).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Heshbon and Jazer: four cities along with grazing land for their cattle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They were-given yet four towns/cites from the land[s] of the tribe of Gad. This is Ramot in Gilead, (which (is) one of the towns/cities of refuge, where a man who kills untentionally can-flee), the Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer, including their pasturelands.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Heshbon, and Jazer.” (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 21:39

21:39

Heshbon: The town of Heshbon was mentioned in 9:10. It was southwest of the city of Amman in what is now the country of Jordan.

Jazer: The town of Jazer was mentioned in 13:25. It was probably west of the present city of Amman in what is now the country of Jordan.

four cities in all, together with their pasturelands: The phrase four cities in all indicates that the clan of Gad gave four of their towns for the Merari families to live in.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

the town of Heshbon and the grasslands around it, and the town of Jazer and the grasslands around it. The total was four towns.
-or-
the town of Heshbon with its grazing lands and the town of Jazer with its grazing lands. The clan of Gad gave the families of Merari four towns in all.

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