Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Issachar

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Issachar” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “donkey” referring to Genesis 49:14. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Issachar” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also strong(-boned) donkey.

More information on Issachar and the Tribe of Issachar .

complete verse (1 Kings 15:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 15:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “Baasha son of Ahijah belonged to the clan of Issachar. On one day that man plotted against Nadab and they went and killed him at Gibbethon which was a city of the Philistines. Those things happened after Nadab and all his soldiers had surrounded that city.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Baasha, son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar conspired against Nadab and killed him. At that time Nadab and the Israelite army were besieging Gibbethon, a city of the Philistines.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Baasha the child of Ahia, from the tribe of Issachar[Issachar], plotted evil against Nadab. He had- Nadab -killed while Nadab and the whole Israel were-attacking Gibeton, one of the towns of the Filistinhon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “A man named Baasha, from the tribe of Issachar, planned to harm him. He killed Nadab when Nadab and his army had surrounded Gibbethon city in the Philistia area.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 15:27

Baasha … of the house of Issachar: Baasha was introduced earlier in verse 16. He was from the tribe of Issachar. Good News Translation makes this identification explicit by translating house of as “tribe of.” Nadab was from the tribe of Ephraim, which may indicate that the members of the ten northern tribes fought for control of this kingdom.

Conspired against him: The Hebrew verb rendered conspired against indicates scheming against or planning to do harm to another person. The pronoun him refers to Nadab and this may have to be made clear by using the proper name in translation as Good News Translation has done.

Struck him down: Since this expression is ambiguous at best, it will be better to translate the meaning clearly as “murdered him” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “killed Nadab” (New Century Version).

Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines: Gibbethon is most likely to be identified with Tell Malat. This town was located about twenty kilometers (12.5 miles) east of the Mediterranean Sea on the western edge of the Judean hills. It had been given to the tribe of Dan at the time of the conquest (Josh 19.44), before the tribe of Dan moved further north, but it was now under control of the Philistines (see 1 Kgs 4.21).

For Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon: For renders the common Hebrew conjunction. In this context it is better to say “as” (Good News Translation) or “while” (New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) since it introduces simultaneous action here.

In 1 Kgs 16.16 the expressions “the troops” (literally “the people”) and “all Israel” occur as synonyms referring to the armed forces. The words all Israel here are therefore correctly translated as “his army” (Good News Translation) and “all his forces” (Revised English Bible). In this context all Israel does not refer to the general population of the country.

Laying siege: See the comments on the related Hebrew verb rendered “besieges” at 1 Kgs 8.37. This verb refers to the armed forces surrounding the town for the purpose of taking complete control of it and destroying the enemy.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .