chariot

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

In Eastern Highland Otomi it’s translated as “cart pulled by horses” (source: Larson 1998, p. 98) and in Chichicapan Zapotec as “ox cart” (in Acts 8). Ox carts are common vehicles for travel. (Source: Loren Bliese)

In Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.) and in the Hausa Common Language Ajami Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

It is illustrated for use in Bible translations in East Africa by Pioneer Bible Translators like this:

Image owned by PBT and Jonathan McDaniel and licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

See also cart.

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 8:6

And Baalath …: Baalath was a city located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Jerusalem. It was in the coastal region of the territory originally given to the tribe of Dan (see Josh 19.44). The verb “built” is implied from the previous verse. Here it has the sense of “rebuilt” since this city existed before the time of Solomon. In many languages it may be better to repeat the verb here and begin a new sentence by saying “He also rebuilt the town of Baalath…” (New Century Version).

For store-cities see the comments on 2Chr 8.4.

And all the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen: In English cities usually refer to large populated areas, and “towns” refer to smaller locations. In the time of Solomon these cities were relatively small, so New Revised Standard Version uses the word “towns” rather than cities. For chariots and horsemen, see the comments on 1 Chr 18.4 and 2 Chr 1.14. Since the Hebrew word for horsemen can refer to horses or charioteers, a good rendering for this whole part of the verse is “and all the towns for his chariots, horses, and charioteers.”

And whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem: Other renderings include “He built everything he desired in Jerusalem” (New Living Translation) and “Solomon had his workers build whatever he wanted in Jerusalem” (Contemporary English Version).

Lebanon: See the comments on 2 Chr 2.8.

In all the land of his dominion may be rendered “throughout all his realm” (An American Translation), “throughout his entire realm” (New Living Translation), or “in all the land submitted to his authority” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

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 .