1 Tawarikh 1:1-54
Konteks1:1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 1:2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jered, 1:3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 1:4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 1
1:5 The sons of Japheth:
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
1:6 The sons of Gomer:
Ashkenaz, Riphath, 2 and Togarmah.
Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites. 4
1:8 The sons of Ham:
Cush, Mizraim, 5 Put, and Canaan.
1:9 The sons of Cush:
Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca.
The sons of Raamah:
Sheba and Dedan.
1:10 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who established himself as a mighty warrior on earth. 6
1:11 Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 1:12 Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines descended 7 ), and the Caphtorites.
1:13 Canaan was the father of Sidon – his firstborn – and Heth, 1:14 as well as the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 1:15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 1:16 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.
1:17 The sons of Shem:
Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
The sons of Aram: 8
Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 9
1:18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. 1:19 Two sons were born to Eber: the first was named Peleg, for during his lifetime the earth was divided; 10 his brother’s name was Joktan.
1:20 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 1:21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 1:22 Ebal, 11 Abimael, Sheba, 1:23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
1:24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, 12 1:25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 1:26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 1:27 Abram (that is, Abraham).
1:28 The sons of Abraham:
Isaac and Ishmael.
1:29 These were their descendants:
Ishmael’s firstborn son was Nebaioth; the others were 13 Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 1:30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 1:31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.
1:32 The sons to whom Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, 14 gave birth:
Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah.
The sons of Jokshan:
Sheba and Dedan.
1:33 The sons of Midian:
Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
1:34 Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac:
Esau and Israel.
1:35 The sons of Esau:
Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
1:36 The sons of Eliphaz:
Teman, Omar, Zephi, 15 Gatam, Kenaz, and (by Timna) Amalek. 16
1:37 The sons of Reuel:
Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
1:38 The sons of Seir:
Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
1:39 The sons of Lotan:
Hori and Homam. (Timna was Lotan’s sister.) 17
1:40 The sons of Shobal:
Alyan, 18 Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, 19 and Onam.
The sons of Zibeon:
Aiah and Anah.
Dishon.
The sons of Dishon:
Hamran, 21 Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.
1:42 The sons of Ezer:
Bilhan, Zaavan, Jaakan. 22
The sons of Dishan: 23
Uz and Aran.
1:43 These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites:
Bela son of Beor; the name of his city was Dinhabah.
1:44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah, succeeded him. 24
1:45 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him.
1:46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad succeeded him. He struck down the Midianites in the plains of Moab; the name of his city was Avith.
1:47 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him.
1:48 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river 25 succeeded him.
1:49 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor succeeded him.
1:50 When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him; the name of his city was Pai. 26 His wife was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-Zahab.
1:51 Hadad died.
The tribal chiefs of Edom were:
Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 1:52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 1:53 Kenaz, Teman, 27 Mibzar, 1:54 Magdiel, Iram. 28 These were the tribal chiefs of Edom.
Hakim-hakim 6:1-40
Konteks6:1 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, 29 so the Lord turned them over to 30 Midian for seven years. 6:2 The Midianites 31 overwhelmed Israel. 32 Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters 33 for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds. 6:3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, 34 the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them. 35 6:4 They invaded the land 36 and devoured 37 its crops 38 all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat, 39 and they took away 40 the sheep, oxen, and donkeys. 6:5 When they invaded 41 with their cattle and tents, they were as thick 42 as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. 43 They came to devour 44 the land. 6:6 Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.
6:7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help because of Midian, 6:8 he 45 sent a prophet 46 to the Israelites. He said to them, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I brought you up from Egypt 47 and took you out of that place of slavery. 48 6:9 I rescued you from Egypt’s power 49 and from the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave their land to you. 6:10 I said to you, “I am the Lord your God! Do not worship 50 the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living!” But you have disobeyed me.’” 51
6:11 The Lord’s angelic messenger 52 came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash’s son Gideon 53 was threshing 54 wheat in a winepress 55 so he could hide it from the Midianites. 56 6:12 The Lord’s messenger appeared and said to him, “The Lord is with you, courageous warrior!” 6:13 Gideon said to him, “Pardon me, 57 but if the Lord is with us, why has such disaster 58 overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, 59 ‘Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” 6:14 Then the Lord himself 60 turned to him and said, “You have the strength. 61 Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! 62 Have I not sent you?” 6:15 Gideon 63 said to him, “But Lord, 64 how 65 can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.” 66 6:16 The Lord said to him, “Ah, but 67 I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army.” 68 6:17 Gideon 69 said to him, “If you really are pleased with me, 70 then give me 71 a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. 6:18 Do not leave this place until I come back 72 with a gift 73 and present it to you.” The Lord said, “I will stay here until you come back.”
6:19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat, 74 along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food 75 to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. 6:20 God’s messenger said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, 76 and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed. 77 6:21 The Lord’s messenger touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. 78 Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The Lord’s messenger then disappeared. 79
6:22 When Gideon realized 80 that it was the Lord’s messenger, he 81 said, “Oh no! 82 Master, Lord! 83 I have seen the Lord’s messenger face to face!” 6:23 The Lord said to him, “You are safe! 84 Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!” 6:24 Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.” 85 To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
6:25 That night the Lord said to him, “Take the bull from your father’s herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old. 86 Pull down your father’s Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole. 6:26 Then build an altar for the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold according to the proper pattern. 87 Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt sacrifice on the wood from the Asherah pole that you cut down.” 6:27 So Gideon took ten of his servants 88 and did just as the Lord had told him. He was too afraid of his father’s family 89 and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime. 90
6:28 When the men of the city got up the next morning, they saw 91 the Baal altar pulled down, the nearby Asherah pole cut down, and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar. 6:29 They said to one another, 92 “Who did this?” 93 They investigated the matter thoroughly 94 and concluded 95 that Gideon son of Joash had done it. 6:30 The men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, so we can execute him! 96 He pulled down the Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole.” 6:31 But Joash said to all those who confronted him, 97 “Must you fight Baal’s battles? 98 Must you rescue him? Whoever takes up his cause 99 will die by morning! 100 If he really is a god, let him fight his own battles! 101 After all, it was his altar that was pulled down.” 102 6:32 That very day Gideon’s father named him Jerub-Baal, 103 because he had said, “Let Baal fight with him, for it was his altar that was pulled down.”
6:33 All the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east 104 assembled. They crossed the Jordan River 105 and camped in the Jezreel Valley. 6:34 The Lord’s spirit took control of 106 Gideon. He blew a trumpet, 107 summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 108 6:35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh and summoned them to follow him as well. 109 He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet him.
6:36 Gideon said to God, “If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel, 110 as you promised, then give me a sign as proof. 111 6:37 Look, I am putting a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground around it 112 is dry, then I will be sure 113 that you will use me to deliver Israel, 114 as you promised.” 6:38 The Lord did as he asked. 115 When he got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece, and enough dew dripped from it to fill a bowl. 116 6:39 Gideon said to God, “Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign. 117 Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew.” 118 6:40 That night God did as he asked. 119 Only the fleece was dry and the ground around it was covered with dew.
[1:4] 1 tc The LXX reads “Noah; the sons of Noah [were] Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” Several English translations (e.g., NIV, NLT) follow the LXX.
[1:4] sn Shem, Ham, and Japheth were Noah’s three sons (Gen 6:10).
[1:6] 2 tc Many medieval Hebrew
[1:7] 3 tn Or in this case, “descendants.”
[1:7] 4 tc The Kethiv has “Rodanim,” which probably refers to the island of Rhodes. The Qere has “Dodanim,” which refers to one of the most ancient and revered locations in ancient Greece. The MT and most medieval Hebrew
[1:7] tn Heb “Kittim and Rodanim.”
[1:10] 6 tn Heb “he began to be a mighty warrior in the earth.”
[1:17] 8 tc The words “the sons of Aram” do not appear in the Hebrew text. Apparently the phrase וּבְנֵי אֲרָם (uvÿney ’aram) has accidentally dropped out of the text by homoioteleuton (note the presence of אֲרָם just before this). The phrase is included in Gen 10:23.
[1:17] 9 tc The MT of the parallel geneaology in Gen 10:23 reads “Mash,” but the LXX there reads “Meshech” in agreement with 1 Chr 1:17.
[1:19] 10 sn Perhaps this refers to the scattering of the people at Babel (Gen 11:1-9).
[1:22] 11 tc Some medieval Hebrew
[1:24] 12 tc Some LXX
[1:29] 13 tn The words “the others were” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[1:32] 14 sn A concubine was a slave woman in ancient Near Eastern societies who was the legal property of her master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with her master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (2 Sam 21:10-14; 1 Kgs 11:3).
[1:36] 15 tc Many medieval Hebrew
[1:36] 16 tn The Hebrew text has simply, “and Timna and Amalek,” but Gen 36:12 indicates that Timna, a concubine of Eliphaz, was the mother of Amalek. See also v. 39 below, which states that Timna was the sister of Lotan.
[1:39] 17 tn Perhaps this is the Timna mentioned in v. 36.
[1:40] 18 tc Some medieval Hebrew
[1:40] 19 tc A few medieval Hebrew
[1:41] 20 tn Heb “sons.” The Hebrew text has the plural, but only one son is listed. For stylistic reasons the singular “son” was used in the translation.
[1:41] 21 tn The parallel geneaology in Gen 36:26 has the variant spelling “Hemdan.” Some English versions follow the variant spelling here (e.g., NAB, NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT).
[1:42] 22 tn The parallel geneaology in Gen 36:27 has the variant spelling “Akan.” Among English versions that use the variant spelling here are NIV, NCV, NLT.
[1:42] 23 tc The MT reads “Dishon” here, but this should be emended to “Dishan.” See the list in v. 38 and Gen 36:28.
[1:44] 24 tn Heb “ruled in his place,” here and in vv. 45-50.
[1:48] 25 tn Or “near the river.”
[1:48] sn The river may refer to the Euphrates River (cf. NRSV, CEV, NLT).
[1:50] 26 tc Many medieval Hebrew
[1:53] 27 tn The parallel genealogy in Gen 36:42 has the variant spelling “Temam.”
[1:54] 28 tn Each of the names in this list is preceded by the word “chief” in the Hebrew text. This has not been included in the translation because it would appear very redundant to the modern reader.
[6:1] 29 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[6:1] 30 tn Heb “gave them into the hand of.”
[6:2] 31 tn Heb “the hand of Midian.”
[6:2] 32 tn Heb “The hand of Midian was strong against Israel.”
[6:2] 33 tn Or possibly “secret storage places.” The Hebrew word occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible.
[6:3] 34 tn Heb “Whenever Israel sowed seed.”
[6:3] 35 tn Heb “Midian, Amalek, and the sons of the east would go up, they would go up against him.” The translation assumes that וְעָלוּ (vÿ’alu) is dittographic (note the following עָלָיו, ’alayv).
[6:4] 36 tn Heb “They encamped against them.”
[6:4] 38 tn Heb “the crops of the land.”
[6:4] 39 tn Heb “They left no sustenance in Israel.”
[6:4] 40 tn The words “they took away” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[6:5] 43 tn Heb “To them and to their camels there was no number.”
[6:5] 44 tn Heb “destroy.” The translation “devour” carries through the imagery of a locust plague earlier in this verse.
[6:8] 45 tn Heb “the
[6:8] 46 tn Heb “a man, a prophet.” Hebrew idiom sometimes puts a generic term before a more specific designation.
[6:8] 47 tc Some ancient witnesses read “from the land of Egypt.” מֵאֶרֶץ (me’erets, “from the land [of]”) could have been accidentally omitted by homoioarcton (note the following מִמִּצְרַיִם [mimmitsrayim, “from Egypt”]).
[6:8] 48 tn Heb “of the house of slavery.”
[6:9] 49 tn Heb “hand” (also a second time later in this verse).
[6:10] 50 tn Heb “Do not fear.”
[6:10] 51 tn Heb “you have not listened to my voice.”
[6:11] 52 tn The adjective “angelic” is interpretive.
[6:11] sn The
[6:11] 53 tn Heb “Now Gideon his son…” The Hebrew circumstantial clause (note the pattern vav [ו] + subject + predicate) breaks the narrative sequence and indicates that the angel’s arrival coincided with Gideon’s threshing.
[6:11] 54 tn Heb “beating out.”
[6:11] 55 sn Threshing wheat in a winepress. One would normally thresh wheat at the threshing floor outside the city. Animals and a threshing sledge would be employed. Because of the Midianite threat, Gideon was forced to thresh with a stick in a winepress inside the city. For further discussion see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 63.
[6:13] 57 tn Heb “But my lord.”
[6:14] 60 sn Some interpreters equate the
[6:14] 61 tn Heb “Go in this strength of yours.”
[6:14] 62 tn Heb “the hand of Midian.”
[6:15] 63 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[6:15] 64 tn Note the switch to אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “Lord”). Gideon seems aware that he is speaking to someone other than, and superior to, the messenger, whom he addressed as אֲדֹנִי (’adoniy, “my lord”) in v. 13.
[6:15] 66 tn Heb “in my father’s house.”
[6:16] 68 tn Heb “You will strike down Midian as one man.” The idiom “as one man” emphasizes the collective unity of a group (see Judg 20:8, 11). Here it may carry the force, “as if they were just one man.”
[6:17] 69 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[6:17] 70 tn Heb “If I have found favor in your eyes.”
[6:17] 71 tn Heb “perform for me.”
[6:18] 72 tn The Hebrew text adds “to you,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[6:18] 73 tn Heb “and I will bring out my gift.” The precise nuance of the Hebrew word מִנְחָה (minkhah, “gift”) is uncertain in this context. It may refer to a gift offered as a sign of goodwill or submission. In some cases it is used of a gift offered to appease someone whom the offerer has offended. The word can also carry a sacrificial connotation.
[6:19] 74 tn Heb “a kid from among the goats.”
[6:19] 75 tn The words “the food” are not in the Hebrew text (an implied direct object). They are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[6:20] 76 tn Heb “Take the meat…and put [it] on this rock.”
[6:20] 77 tn Heb “and he did so.”
[6:21] 78 tn Heb “extended the tip of the staff which was in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened bread.”
[6:21] 79 tn Heb “went from his eyes.”
[6:22] 81 tn Heb “Gideon.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[6:22] 83 tn The Hebrew text reads אֲדֹנַי יְהוִה (’adonay yÿhvih, “Lord [the same title used in v. 15],
[6:23] 84 tn Heb “Peace to you.” For a similar use of this idiom to introduce a reassuring word, see Gen 43:23.
[6:24] 85 tn Heb “The
[6:25] 86 tn Or “Take a bull from your father’s herd, the second one, the one seven years old.” Apparently Gideon would need the bulls to pull down the altar.
[6:26] 87 tn Possibly “in a row” or “in a layer,” perhaps referring to the arrangement of the stones used in the altar’s construction.
[6:27] 88 tn Heb “men from among his servants.”
[6:27] 90 tn Heb “so he did it at night.”
[6:28] 91 tn Heb “look!” The narrator uses this word to invite his audience/readers to view the scene through the eyes of the men.
[6:29] 92 tn Heb “each one to his neighbor.”
[6:29] 93 tn Heb “this thing.”
[6:29] 94 tn Heb “they inquired and searched.” The synonyms are joined to emphasize the care with which they conducted their inquiry.
[6:29] 95 tn Heb “and said.” Perhaps the plural subject is indefinite. If so, it could be translated, “they were told.”
[6:30] 96 tn Heb “and let him die.” The jussive form with vav after the imperative is best translated as a purpose clause.
[6:31] 97 tn Heb “to all who stood against him.”
[6:31] 98 tn Heb “Do you fight for Baal?”
[6:31] 99 tn Heb “fights for him.”
[6:31] 100 sn Whoever takes up his cause will die by morning. This may be a warning to the crowd that Joash intends to defend his son and to kill anyone who tries to execute Gideon. Then again, it may be a sarcastic statement about Baal’s apparent inability to defend his own honor. Anyone who takes up Baal’s cause may end up dead, perhaps by the same hand that pulled down the pagan god’s altar.
[6:31] 101 tn Heb “fight for himself.”
[6:31] 102 tn Heb “for he pulled down his altar.” The subject of the verb, if not Gideon, is indefinite (in which case a passive translation is permissible).
[6:32] 103 tn Heb “He called him on that day Jerub-Baal.” The name means, at least by popular etymology, “Let Baal fight!”
[6:33] 104 tn Heb “Midian, Amalek, and the sons of the east.”
[6:33] 105 tn The words “the Jordan River” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[6:34] 107 tn That is, “mustered an army.”
[6:34] 108 tn Heb “Abiezer was summoned after him.”
[6:35] 109 tn Heb “and he also was summoned after him.”
[6:36] 110 tn More literally, “you are about to deliver Israel by my hand.”
[6:36] 111 tn The words “then give me a sign as proof” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[6:37] 112 tn Heb “all the ground.”
[6:37] 114 tn Heb “you will deliver Israel by my hand.”
[6:38] 115 tn Heb “And it was so.”
[6:38] 116 tn Heb “dew dripped from the fleece – a bowl full of water.”
[6:39] 117 tn Heb “Let your anger not rage at me, so that I might speak only this once.”
[6:39] 118 tn Heb “let the fleece alone be dry, while dew is on all the ground.”
