The town name that is transliterated as “Bethlehem” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the signs signifying “manger + town” (referring to Luke 2:7). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
In American Sign Language it is translated with the signs for “bread” and “house,” referring to the original meaning of “Bethlehem” as “house of bread.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Bethlehem” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 11:6:
Kupsabiny: “Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and renewed the cities of Judah and of Benjamin to become (cities) that protected people from enemies. Those cities were Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soko, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “These are the cities of Judah and Benjamin which he made secure by building walls –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Betlehem, Etam, Tekoa,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “In the area that belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin they built walls around Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The cities listed in verses 6-10 were located on the west, south and east borders of Judah and Benjamin and had strategic positions to protect roads in the western foothills (the Shephelah) and the hills of Judea on the south and east. It appears that the defense was mostly against Egyptian invasion from the south, and possibly also again the Philistines in the west and the Moabites and Ammonites in the east.
He built …: The verb built is better rendered “fortified” (Revised English Bible) or “built up” (New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation) as in the previous verse. Good News Translation omits this verb since it uses a colon () at the end of verse 5 to introduce the names of the fortified cities (also New International Version).
Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa and Beth-zur were cities from north to south that protected the southern kingdom on the eastern side. Bethlehem was located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of Jerusalem, Etam was about 11.5 kilometers (7 miles) south of Jerusalem, Tekoa was about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Jerusalem, and Beth-zur was about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Hebron.
Azekah, Soco, Adullam, Gath, and Mareshah were cities from north to south that protected the southern kingdom on the western side. Azekah and Soco were located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Jerusalem, and Adullam was about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) southwest of Jerusalem. Gath is probably not the Philistine city by that name but rather Moresheth Gath (mentioned in Micah 1.14). Mareshah was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Jerusalem.
Zorah and Aijalon were further north on the western side of the kingdom. Zorah was about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Jerusalem, and Aijalon was about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of Jerusalem.
Lachish was located in the southwest corner of the southern kingdom. It was about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Jerusalem, and was strategically located on roads going north-south and east-west. It was a very important city on the road to Egypt.
Ziph, Adoraim, and Hebron were in the south of the kingdom. Hebron was about 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Jerusalem. Ziph was about 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) southeast of Hebron, and Adoraim was about 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of Hebron.
Fortified cities which are in Judah and in Benjamin (verse 10): Because this information has already been given in verse 5, Good News Translation has left it implied here. However, if the receptor language accepts such redundancy as natural, it is appropriate to state it again as does the Hebrew. Or it may be shifted forward to the beginning of the list as Revised English Bible has done. Revised English Bible begins verse 6 with “The towns in Judah and Benjamin which he fortified were….”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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