9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is transliterated as “Benjamin” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wolf,” referring to Genesis 49:27. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 10:9:
Kupsabiny: “The Ammonites also crossed over to the West of the river Jordan and came to fight against the clan of Judah, of Benjamin and of Ephraim. Then, the people of Israel suffered a lot.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan river and did battle with the men of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. And the Israelites fell into great trouble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The Ammonhon also crossed-over to the west of the River Jordan and fought against the tribes of Juda, Benjamin, and of Efraim. Because of-this, Israel was in great/[double emphasis marker] distress.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then the people of the Ammon people-group crossed the Jordan River to fight against the people of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. They caused the Israelis’ lives to be very miserable.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The Hebrew, Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “Jordan” means “descending (rapidly),” “flowing down.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the river bordering Jordan and Israel, along with the general sign for river. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Jordan river” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )
And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim: And, which renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, introduces an additional act by Israel’s enemies. Contemporary English Version uses the connector “Then,” but many versions leave this conjunction untranslated (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version). The Ammonites, who lived on the east side of Jordan, crossed the river to attack the Israelites on the other side. In addition to Gilead, the Ammonites also attacked deeper into Israelite territory, which Good News Translation expresses as “even.” We may also say “as well” or “additionally.” The text is emphatic here with the repetition of the Hebrew preposition b- (against). The enemy attack against the Israelites became widespread, affecting Judah (verse 1.2), Benjamin (verse 1.21), and Ephraim (verse 1.29). As elsewhere, these names refer to tribal groups, not to individuals. The house of Ephraim refers to the members of this tribe. Good News Translation provides a helpful model: “The Ammonites even crossed the Jordan to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.”
So that Israel was sorely distressed: This is an independent clause in Hebrew, which is literally “and it was very cramped for Israel.” Revised Standard Version has opted for a result clause, rendering the Hebrew waw conjunction as so that to introduce the result of what happened under Ammonite oppression. Good News Translation keeps an independent clause here. For the Hebrew phrase rendered was sorely distressed, see verse 2.15, where it is translated “were in sore straits.” Contemporary English Version gives a very dynamic rendering here, saying “Life was miserable for the Israelites.”
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
10:9a The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim,
The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan River to fight Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim,
-or-
Then the Ammonites crossed the Jordan River and attacked the clans of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.
10:9b and Israel was in deep distress.
and the people of Israel suffered a lot.
-or-
Life was miserable for the Israelites.
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