Absalom (image)

Hand colored stencil print on momigami by Sadao Watanabe (1972).

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe.

For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

See also Absalom.

Absalom

The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Absalom” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs depicting “hair + caught” referring to 2 Samuel 18:9. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Absalom” 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 Absalom (image).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Absalom .

terebinth

The Hebrew words ’elah and ’alah refer to any of three species of terebinth mentioned in the Bible: 1) the Atlantic terebinth Pistacia atlantica, 2) the Palestinian terebinth Pistacia palaestina, and 3) the Lentisk Terebinth Pistacia lentiscus, also called the mastic tree.

According to Zohary (Plants of the Bible, Cambridge University Press, 1982), the Atlantic terebinth, also called the teil tree, is found in the Negev, Lower Galilee, and the Dan Valley. Hepper (Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, Baker Book House, 1992) says it was once abundant in Gilead, the trunk and bark being a possible source for aromatic resin (mastic) exported to Egypt. It is a dry-land tree that grows in the border areas between ever-green woodlands and the dwarf-shrub steppes (note “valley of Elah” in 1 Samuel 17:2 et al.). The nuts of the Atlantic terebinth are used for dyeing and tanning animal skins, but they can be eaten if roasted. They are often sold in Arab markets, are bigger than the nuts of the Palestinian terebinth, and are quite different from the true pistachio nuts.

The Palestinian terebinth is found mostly on wooded hills, often together with the common oak. Its little round nuts can be eaten whole, fresh, or roasted, and it is probably these nuts (boten) that were carried to Egypt by the sons of Jacob (Genesis 43:11).

The lentisk terebinth is a shrub or bush that grew in the hills of Gilead, and may be the source of the “balm/resin” (tsori in Hebrew) carried by the Ishmaelites in Genesis 37:25, and by the sons of Jacob to Egypt along with pistachio nuts in Genesis 43:11. The fact that Genesis 37:25 et al. all mention Gilead in connection with the resin tsori, suggests that its source was a plant unique to Palestine. That is why it could be used to trade for goods from Egypt. The references in Jeremiah (8:22 and 46:11) presumably refer to the salve made from the terebinth resin.

Terebinths look like oaks but have pinnate leaves. The Atlantic terebinth may reach a height of 10 meters (33 feet). The Palestinian terebinth species is shorter, reaching to 5 meters (17 feet). The lentisk terebinth, or mastic (gum) tree, is a small shrub or tree 1-3 meters (3-10 feet) in height that produces a sweet-smelling resin when the stem or branches are cut. The resin dries into hard lumps, which are then ground and dissolved in olive oil for medicinal use, per-fume, incense, varnish, and glue.

Both of the larger terebinths were revered by ancient Israelites and other peoples. They built shrines and altars in the terebinth groves, and sometimes buried people there. The resin of the lentisk terebinth was highly prized for its medicinal value, which is why the Ishmaelites and the sons of Jacob were carrying them as trade goods to Egypt. Sirach 24:16 uses the wide-spreading branches terebinth as a metaphor for wisdom.

Pistacia palaestina, Wikimedia Commons
Pistacia atlantica, Wikimedia Commons
Mastic resin hanging from mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) tree, Wikimedia Commons

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

complete verse (2 Samuel 18:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 18:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Joab told that person that, ‘Why should we waste time with you?’ (He) got three spears which were short and went and found Absalom while he was still alive on/in that tree. Then (he) pierced Absalom touching the heart.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joab said, "I am not wasting my time talking with you." Then Joab went to Absalom and he was taking three pointed sticks, pierced Absalom, who was alive, hanging from the tree, in the chest.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Joab said, ‘I am just wasting time with you!’ Then Joab took three spears and went there to Absalom who is- still alive -hanging in an oak tree. Then he stabbed Absalom on the chest.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joab said, ‘I am not going to waste time talking to you!’ Then he took three spears and went to where Absalom was, and thrust them into Absalom’s chest/heart while he was still alive, dangling from the oak tree.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with low register (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 18:14

I will not waste time: the verb so translated often means simply “wait” (as in Gen 8.12; 1 Sam 10.8; 13.8). But it may also mean “be patient with,” and in this context Joab’s patience with the soldier had come to an end. He was ready for action. It will be possible in some languages to translate “I will not discuss the matter with you any further.” However, some interpreters understand the sentence to be a denial of what the soldier had just said. An American Translation, for example, translates “Not so… I would have assuaged his wrath.” But the meaning in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation seems more likely.

The text contains certain implied information that may have to be made clear in translation in some languages. The two men were not standing next to Absalom when the conversation started (verse 10). So the implied information “went to the place where Absalom was hanging” may have to be supplied in some languages. Compare Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, “He took in his hand three pointed sticks and went to drive them into the breast of Absalom….”

Darts: the Hebrew noun often means simply “a stick” or “a staff.” Here the word appears to refer to pointed weapons, and a more accurate translation in modern English is “spears” (New Revised Standard Version) or “javelins” (New International Version). Compare also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, “pointed sticks.”

As revealed in the following verse, these three blows did not kill Absalom, although they seriously wounded him.

Oak: see the comments on verses 9 and 10 above. The Hebrew contains a play on the word “heart” that will probably not be translated naturally into most languages, “… and stabbed them into the heart of Absalom; he was still hanging alive in the heart of the oak…” (Moffatt, similarly Fox).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .