quietness

The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) uses the ideophone bata to describe complete quietness. (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 105)

Philip Noss (in The Bible Translator 1976, p. 100ff. ) explains the function of an ideophone: “The ideophone may be identified with onomatopoeia and other sound words frequently seen in French and English comic strips, but in [many] African languages it comprises a class of words with a very wide range of meaning and usage. They may function verbally, substantively, or in a modifying role similar to adverbs and adjectives. They describe anything that may be experienced: action, sound, color, quality, smell, or emotion. In oral literature they are used not only with great frequency but also with great creativity.”

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 23:21

So all the people of the land rejoiced: So correctly renders the common Hebrew conjunction as a logical connector by Revised Standard Version, but it may be left untranslated as in Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible. For all the people of the land, see the comments on verse 13. The Hebrew verb rendered rejoiced may be taken as referring to an inward feeling of joy or an outward expression of it. Following the latter interpretation, it may be translated “celebrated” (Contemporary English Version) or “were celebrating” (God’s Word). The first interpretation may be expressed by saying “were filled with happiness” (Good News Translation) or “were very happy” (New Century Version).

And the city was quiet: After the people rejoiced in Jerusalem, the city became calm. The common Hebrew conjunction rendered and may be translated “after that” to express the temporal relationship here clearly. New Century Version renders the city as “Jerusalem,” which other languages may find helpful. For the Hebrew word rendered was quiet, see the comments on 2 Chr 20.30.

After Athaliah had been slain with the sword: See the comments on verse 14. The rejoicing of the people and the subsequent calm in the city were both the result of Athaliah’s execution. The passive verb had been slain will have to be made active in some languages. The Hebrew actually uses an active verb since this clause is literally “and Athaliah they killed with the sword.” God’s Word provides a helpful model, saying “because they had killed Athaliah with a sword.”

This whole verse may be restructured as follows:

• After the death of Athaliah, all the people of the land rejoiced and then the city was quiet.

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 .