The Hebrew that is translated in English versions as “pledged their loyalty to Absalom,” or “the hearts have gone after Absalom” was translated into Afar as ‘Ku kabut gacennooh ko’lih rabenno’ ‘yaanam axcuk yenen.: “They were saying, ‘We will go with you and we will die with you.’ (Direct speech is used instead of general descriptions of speech acts. The pledge to even die with one’s leader in battle is a typical expression of loyalty.)
Language-specific Insights
blood come back on the head
The Hebrew that was translated into English versions as “so shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever” was translated into Afar as Yowab ta marat abe qidim kaa kee kay ramadih fillal raqtay.: “May the killing done on those people by Joab remain on his and his descendants’ neck.” (Note head > neck.)
die
The Hebrew which is translated into English as “Jehoshaphat died” or “Jehoshaphat slept” was translated into Afar as Yacoosafatal amri yemeeteh: “The command came on Jehoshaphat.” (“God” understood in the view that death comes because of a divine command.)
stranger
The Hebrew that has been translated in some English versions as “stranger” is translated into Afar as “non-relative.”
mourn
The Hebrew that is rendered in English translations as “Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered” was translated into Afar as Haaman wacarriyih namma gaba amol luk isi buxah arduk yuduure.: “Haman, having both hands on his head in shame, returned to his home running.” (Shame is shown by placing both hands on top of one’s head.)
See also shake the head.
under tongues are mischief and iniquity
The Hebrew that is rendered in English as “under their tongues are mischief and iniquity” is translated into Afar as afak keenik yawqe yab alliyo-bis le: “words that come from their mouth are like vomit.”
ships of Tarshish
The Hebrew that is translated in English as “as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish” (New Revised Standard Version) or “like ships tossing in a furious storm” (Good News Translation) is translated in Afar as Alak gilite illih innah, gilitak wadir yuduuren.: “As sheep scatter back and forth from a wild animal.” (No ships in this part of the Afar desert.)
See also ship.
shadow
The Hebrew that is rendered in English versions as “live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow?” is translated into Afar as Sahdayti subci suga iraaway ayro tawqe waqdi gexah bis le.: “People are like a shadow present in the early morning that goes away when the sun rises.” (Clarifying the role of the sun in the changing shadow.)
See also shadow vs. spirit.