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 Maccabees 8:36

Thus he who had undertaken to secure tribute for the Romans by the capture of the people of Jerusalem: See verse 10. Nicanor was going to get the money for the Roman not by capturing the people, of course, but by selling them, and this may be a good approach to take in translation here. A model that does this is “Nicanor had planned to capture the people of Jerusalem and sell them as slaves so that King Antiochus could pay his debt to Rome.” The Greek connector rendered Thus (literally “And”) introduces a conclusion to the story concerning Nicanor. Good News Bible leaves it implied, but it may be rendered by beginning this verse with “And so it was that….”

Proclaimed that the Jews had a Defender, and that therefore the Jews were invulnerable, because they followed the laws ordained by him: The verb proclaimed can be taken literally, referring to what Nicanor actually said or was forced to admit it. Or it can be understood to mean that Nicanor’s experience “showed” (Good News Bible, New English Bible) what was true about the Jews. Either approach is fine, but we prefer the latter. The Defender is God. The Jews were invulnerable may be rendered “no one could defeat the Jews.” The laws were given (ordained) by God to the Jews.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Nicanor had planned to capture the people of Jerusalem and sell them as slaves so that King Antiochus could pay his debt to Rome. In the end he showed the world that the Jews could not be defeated [or, no one could defeat the Jews], because they lived the way their God had told them to live, and God defended them.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.