Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

Translation commentary on 2 Maccabees 14:23

A paragraph break is appropriate here (so Revised Standard Version).

Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem: This rendering is misleading; it suggests that Nicanor was already in Jerusalem. Goldstein is better with “Nicanor spent time at Jerusalem,” and so is Contemporary English Version with “Nicanor stayed in Jerusalem for a time.”

And did nothing out of the way: While Nicanor was in Jerusalem, he did nothing to provoke the people. New English Bible has “and behaved correctly.”

But dismissed the flocks of people that had gathered: This does not mean that Nicanor had been consciously gathering people around him, but that people were attracted to him. The flocks of people that had gathered refers to the Gentiles of verse 14, although it may also include Jews who had sided with him. Good News Bible gives a reasonable model for this whole clause, saying “and even sent away the people who had come over to his side.” We may also say “As for the mobs [or, large group of people] that had taken his side and had been following him, he sent them home” or “He even sent home the large group of people who had sided with him and followed him.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.