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 cardinal directions “east” and “west” are easy to translate into Maan here since the language uses “where the sun comes up” and “where the sun goes down.” For “north” the translator had “facing toward the sun rising to the left,” and for “south” she had “facing toward the sun rising to the right.” So the listener had to think hard before knowing what direction was in view when translating “to the north and south, to the east and west.” So, in case all four directions are mentioned, it was shortened by saying simply “all directions.” Manya uses a similar nomenclature for the cardinal directions. (Source: Don Slager)
Likewise, Yakan has “from the four corners of the earth” (source: Yakan back-translation) or Western Bukidnon Manobo “from the four directions here on the earth” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo back-translation).
Kankanaey is “from the coming-out and the going-away of the sun and the north and the south” (source: Kankanaey back-translation), Northern Emberá “from where the sun comes up, from where it falls, from the looking [left] hand, from the real [right] hand” (source: Charles Mortensen), Amele “from the direction of the sun going up, from the direction of the sun going down, from the north and from the south” (source: John Roberts), Ejamat “look up to see the side where the sun comes from, and the side where it sets, and look on your right side, and on your left” (source: David Frank in this blog post ).
In Lamba, only umutulesuŵa, “where the sun rises” and imbonsi, “where the sun sets” were available as cardinal directions that were not tied to the local area of language speakers (“north” is kumausi — “to the Aushi country” — and “south” kumalenje — “to the Lenje country”). So “north” and “south” were introduced as loanwords, nofu and saufu respectively. The whole phrase is kunofu nakusaufu nakumutulesuŵa nakumbonsi. (Source C. M. Doke in The Bible Translator 1958, p. 57ff. )
“West” is translated in Tzeltal as “where the sun pours-out” and in Kele as “down-river” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel).
In Morelos Nahuatl, “north” is translated as “from above” and “south” as “from below.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
In Matumbi cardinal directions are defined as in relation to another place. “East” for instance typically is “toward the beach” since the coast is in the eastern direction in Matumbi-speaking areas. “North” and “south” can be defined as above or below another place. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew text that gives instructions where to place items in the tabernacle with the help of cardinal directions (north and south) had to be approached in the Bambam translation specific to spacial concepts of that culture.
Phil Campbell explains: “There are no words in Bambam for north and south. In Exodus 26:35, God instructs that the table is to be placed on the north side and the lamp on the south side inside the tabernacle. The team wants to use right and left to tell where the lamp and table are located. In many languages we would say that the table is on the right and the lampstand is on the left based on the view of someone entering the tabernacle. However, that is not how Bambam people view it. They view the placement of things and rooms in a building according to the orientation of someone standing inside the building facing the front of the building. So that means the table is on the left side and the lampstand is on the right side.”
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 18:12:
Kupsabiny: “They held a rest where it was near Kiriath-jearim in the country of Judah. That is why this place is called the Resting place of Dan until today.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “They went up and pitched camp toward the west of Kiriath-jearim in Judah. So that place is even today still called Mahaneh-dan.,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They camped on the west side of the town of Kiriat Jearim in Juda. (That is why until now that place is-called Camp of Dan.)” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “On their way they set up their tents near Kiriath-Jearim city in the area where the tribe of Judah lives. That is why the area west of Kiriath-Jearim was named ‘Camp of Dan’, and that is still its name.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And went up: The Hebrew verb rendered went up (ʿalah) is often associated with a military attack as it is here (see verse 1.1). Some versions omit this clause (Contemporary English Version), or say simply “They went” (Bible en français courant). New International Version has “On their way.” However, if the same vocabulary items can be used throughout, the unity of the book will be more evident.
And encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah: The verb encamped means the Danites pitched their tents and set up a temporary camp (see verse 6.4). The focus here is on the temporary nature of this camp, so the verb used should convey this idea. We may say “set up their camp” or simply “camped” (Good News Translation). The text does not say how long they stayed at this place, though Contemporary English Version seems to think it was only one night, saying “One night they camped near….” We may also say “They spent the night at….” At Kiriath-jearim in Judah indicates that the Danites had to pass through the region of Judah on their way north to the hill country of Ephraim. The Hebrew preposition rendered at can also mean “in” ( NET Bible, Revised English Bible), “near” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version) or “by.” It would be unusual for 600 men to set up camp inside a small town, so they were probably just somewhere “near” or “in the region of” this town. Kiriath-jearim was a town about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of Jerusalem. The name Kiriath means “city [of],” but the meaning of jearim is unsure, though some scholars think it might mean “forests.” Here Judah refers to a region and not a tribe. We might say “and they set up camp near the town of Kiriath-jearim in the territory of Judah.”
On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day: The Hebrew phrase rendered On this account (literally “Upon thus”) introduces an explanation about the name of the Danites’ camping site (see verse 15.19). This phrase may be translated “Therefore” or “For this reason.” New International Version has “This is why,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “That is why.” That place refers to where the Danites set up camp. That place is called is literally “they called the place.” Mahaneh-dan means “the camp of Dan” (see verse 13.25). It is important that readers understand the meaning behind this place name. A footnote can give this information, but it is easier for readers if this information is placed within the text itself, as in Contemporary English Version‘s “Dan’s Camp.” We could also transliterate this name and give its meaning: “Mahaneh-dan (which means ‘Dan’s camp’).” To this day refers only to the time of the narrator (see comments on verse 1.21). Translators need to be careful not to give the impression that the place is still called by that name today, even if it is possible to identify its location. We might say “from that time on.”
Behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim: The Hebrew word hinneh rendered behold seems somewhat out of place here. This word usually marks an important event, but it is hard to see what this word is marking here. Thus many versions simply omit this word (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). It is west of Kiriath-jearim is literally “[it is] behind Kiriath-jearim.” In this context the Hebrew word for “behind” has the sense of west. Good News Translation combines this clause with the first half of the verse, saying “They went up and camped west of Kiriath Jearim in Judah,” which is an acceptable model.
Translation models for this verse are:
• The soldiers arrived near the town of Kiriath-jearim in the region of Judah and set up camp there. That is why the place is called “Dan’s Camp” till this day. This place is located west of the town.
• They came as far as Kiriath-jearim in Judah and pitched their tents west of the town. For that reason this place was called Mahaneh-dan (“Camp of Dan”) from that time on.
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 .
18:12a They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah.
On the way they camped near Kiriath Jearim in the land of Judah.
-or-
They put up their tents near the town of Kiriath Jearim which belonged to the clan of Judah.
18:12b That is why the place west of Kiriath-jearim is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.
It was a place to the west of Kiriath Jearim, and people still refer to it as Mahaneh Dan, which means “Camp of Dan.”
-or-
That is why they still call the place to the west of Kiriath Jearim “Camp of Dan.”
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