complete verse (Joshua 21:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 21:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “Aijalon and Gath-rimmon together with where one could graze (animals). Those cities reached/amounted to four.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Aijalon and Gath-Rimmon: four cities along with grazing lands for their cattle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They were- also -given four towns/cities from the land[s] of the tribe of Dan. These were Elteke, Gibeton, Ayalon, and Gat Rimon, including their pasturelands.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Aijalon, and Gath-Rimmon.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 21:23 - 21:25

Four cities are in the tribe of Dan, that is, in the south, the area which the Danites eventually abandoned, according to 19.40-48.

Two cities are in West Manasseh. Gathrimmon in verse 25 seems to be a scribal error (see in verse 24, Gathrimmon in the territory of Dan). In 17.11 a city in West Manasseh named Ibleam is listed; and in 1 Chronicles 6.70 the two levitical cities are Aner and Bileam. In this passage Jerusalem Bible has “Jibleam” (Bible de Jérusalem “Yibleam”); New American Bible has “Ibleam.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends “Jibleam.” If the translator abandons Gathrimmon here, the town could be called either “Jiblema” (so Soggin) or “Ibleam” (so Bright), as in 17.11.

It is surely unnecessary to repeat twice the phrase with their pasture lands (verses 24, 25). The restructuring of verses 23-25 may follow the pattern suggested for verses 17-18.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .