11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
The Hebrew that is translated as “offering” in English is translated in Venda as nduvho. J. A. van Rooy (in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 439ff. ) explains: “It is derived from the verb u luvha (‘to pay homage to; to acknowledge the superiority of; at the same time usually asking for a favour’). It is sometimes used as a synonym for ‘asking something from a chief. The noun nduvho means ‘a gift of allegiance,’ which corresponds closely with minchah (מִנְחָה) as ‘offering of allegiance.’ This term nduvho has in it the elements of subjugation, of reciprocity (asking for a favor), of being taken up into the same community as the chief in allegiance to him. Only the element of expiation is missing.”
In Northern Emberá, it is translated as “given to God freely.” (Source: Loewen 1980, p. 108)
The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Jehoshaphat” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “king” and “mixup” referring to the fateful alliance with king Ahab of Israel in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”
This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.
Apparently the southern kingdom of Judah controlled a number of trade routes, which meant that the Philistines and Arabs paid taxes to King Jehoshaphat.
Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute: For Philistines see the comments on 1 Chr 1.12. The Hebrew noun translated presents is the same word rendered “tribute” in verse 5 (see the comments there since it has the same meaning here). The Hebrew noun rendered tribute does not have this meaning elsewhere in the Old Testament. It means “load” or “burden.” Like Revised Standard Version, some other versions take these two nouns as two distinct items. New Jerusalem Bible, for example, renders presents, and silver for tribute as “presents and a load of silver,” and New American Bible says “gifts and a tribute of silver.” If this interpretation is followed, then the sense appears to be that the Philistines brought tribute in some form, as well as great quantities of silver. But others consider the second item as a more detailed explanation of the first one; for example, Revised English Bible says “a gift of a great quantity of silver.”
And the Arabs brought him … rams and … he-goats: The Arabs probably does not refer to the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, but to the tribes mentioned also in 2 Chr 21.16 and 26.7, who lived in southwestern Palestine near the Philistines. However, the only way to deal with this is probably in a footnote. Rams is literally “a flock of male sheep.” Good News Translation has “sheep,” which is correct, but not as precise as the Hebrew. It is better to say “rams” (see the comments on 1 Chr 15.26). He-goats is more naturally rendered “male goats” (New Revised Standard Version) or “billy goats” in English. Good News Translation says simply “goats,” but this rendering is not as specific as the Hebrew.
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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