reduced

English translation: conquered

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:reduced
Selected answer:conquered
Entered by: Ana Juliá

09:11 Nov 9, 2009
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Archaeology / Book for Sunday School teachers
English term or phrase: reduced
"As for Hezekiah the Judahite, who did not submit to my yoke: forty-six of his strong, walled cities, as well as the small towns in their area, which were without number, by levelling with battering-rams and by bringing up seige-engines, and by attacking and storming on foot, by mines, tunnels, and breeches, I besieged and took them. 200,150 people, great and small, male and female, horses, mules, asses, camels, cattle and sheep without number, I brought away from them and counted as spoil. (Hezekiah) himself, like a caged bird I shut up in Jerusalem, his royal city. I threw up earthworks against him— the one coming out of the city-gate, I turned back to his misery. His cities, which I had despoiled, I cut off from his land, and to Mitinti, king of Ashdod, Padi, king of Ekron, and Silli-bêl, king of Gaza, I gave (them). And thus I ***reduced*** his country. I added to the former tribute, and I laid upon him the surrender of their land and imposts—gifts for my majesty. As for Hezekiah, the terrifying splendor of my majesty overcame him, and the Arabs and his mercenary troops which he had brought in to strengthen Jerusalem, his royal city, deserted him. In addition to the thirty talents of gold and eight hundred talents of silver, gems, antimony, jewels, large carnelians, ivory-inlaid couches, ivory-inlaid chairs, elephant hides, elephant tusks, ebony, boxwood, all kinds of valuable treasures, as well as his daughters, his harem, his male and female musicians, which he had brought after me to Nineveh, my royal city. To pay tribute and to accept servitude, he dispatched his messengers."

In Taylor's Prism. What is the sense of reduce here?
Ana Juliá
Spain
Local time: 14:42
conquered
Explanation:
I think "reduced" here means conquered his country, overcame its opposition to me. The other interpretation would be that his country's territory was reduced in size, but I don't believe that is the way it is meant here.
Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:42
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2conquered
Jack Doughty
4defeated in detail / totality
Andy Carr
3made smaller
Mark Nathan


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
made smaller


Explanation:
Seems as simple as that to me. He gave some of Hezekiah's cities/lands to other kings.

Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 14:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
conquered


Explanation:
I think "reduced" here means conquered his country, overcame its opposition to me. The other interpretation would be that his country's territory was reduced in size, but I don't believe that is the way it is meant here.

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:42
Native speaker of: English
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Liam Hamilton
4 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  John Detre
7 hrs
  -> Thank you.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
defeated in detail / totality


Explanation:
According to the OED:
Bring a person (or place) under control; subdue, conquer spec. capture (a town, fortress, etc.); compel to surrender

In this case the text specifies reduction in parts by individual sieges and other works. This is described militarily as defeating a foe in detail, following the military maxim of divide and conquer.

Andy Carr
Local time: 13:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search