In the era of the Talmudic sages the Jewish community were native Aramaic speakers. The general public was not expert in the language of the Scriptures. Therefore, when the Torah was read in the synagogue, they read a verse as written and then translated it into Aramaic so the public would understand.
The early sages directed that Scriptural content which would embarrass the nation’s founders should not be translated so the founders would not be belittled in the eyes of the public. Thus, for example, they ruled that the verse “And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it” (Genesis 35:22) which would embarrass Reuben, son of Jacob. An incident occurred involving the sage Rabbi Chanina son of Rabban Gamliel. He went to the synagogue in Kfar Kabul (in the north of the country) and when this verse, dealing with Reuben and his adultery with his father’s wife, was read, the translator began translating it. Immediately Rabbi Chanina chided him to stop translating and skip to the next verse; the local sages praised Rabbi Chanina for this.
The early sages also ruled that one should not translate the incident of the calf made by the Israelites after Moses ascended the mountain and tarried. “And Moses said to Aaron, ‘What did this people do to you?’…’And I said to them, “Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.” So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.‘ Now Moses saw that the people were unrestrained” (Exodus 32:21-25). They feared that the public would get the impression that one could make a Golden Calf, that idolatry has Divine powers, so they dictated that this section should not be translated into Aramaic.
The sages also said that the Scriptural story in which Amnon, son of King David, raped his sister Tamar not only should not be translated, it should not be read in public, even in Hebrew. The scholars asked: The early sages wrote that one may read the story of Amnon and Tamar and even translate it. Answer: The verse which calls him Amnon, son of David should not be read or translated so David’s honor not be harmed. One may read and translate verses in which Amnon is mentioned without any mention of David; thus David’s honor is maintained and the public is unaware that David’s son raped his own sister.
(Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Megillah 25b)