Hakim-hakim 5:6

5:6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,

in the days of Jael caravans ¹  disappeared; ² 

travelers ³  had to go on winding side roads.

Hakim-hakim 5:10

5:10 You who ride on light-colored female donkeys,

who sit on saddle blankets, ⁴ 

you who walk on the road, pay attention!

Hakim-hakim 19:14

19:14 So they traveled on, ⁵  and the sun went down when they were near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. ⁶ 

Hakim-hakim 18:6

18:6 The priest said to them, “Go with confidence. ⁷  The Lord will be with you on your mission.” ⁸ 

Hakim-hakim 18:21

18:21 They turned and went on their way, but they walked behind the children, the cattle, and their possessions. ⁹ 

Hakim-hakim 18:5

18:5 They said to him, “Seek a divine oracle for us, ¹⁰  so we can know if we will be successful on our mission.” ¹¹ 

Hakim-hakim 2:22

2:22 Joshua left those nations ¹²  to test ¹³  Israel. I wanted to see ¹⁴  whether or not the people ¹⁵  would carefully walk in the path ¹⁶  marked out by ¹⁷  the Lord, as their ancestors ¹⁸  were careful to do.”

Hakim-hakim 4:15

4:15 The Lord routed ¹⁹  Sisera, all his chariotry, and all his army with the edge of the sword. ²⁰  Sisera jumped out of ²¹  his chariot and ran away on foot.

Hakim-hakim 17:8

17:8 This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to find another place to live. He came to the Ephraimite hill country and made his way to Micah’s house. ²² 

Hakim-hakim 18:26

18:26 The Danites went on their way; when Micah realized ²³  they were too strong to resist, ²⁴  he turned around and went home.

Hakim-hakim 19:12

19:12 But his master said to him, “We should not stop at a foreign city where non-Israelites live. ²⁵  We will travel on to Gibeah.”

Hakim-hakim 20:2

20:2 The leaders ²⁶  of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, which numbered ²⁷  four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers.

Hakim-hakim 9:25

9:25 The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting ²⁸  bandits in ²⁹  the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it. ³⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 9:37

9:37 Gaal again said, “Look, men are coming down from the very center ³¹  of the land. A unit ³²  is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners.” ³³ 

Hakim-hakim 19:27

19:27 When her master ³⁴  got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went outside to start on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, sprawled out on the doorstep of the house with her hands on the threshold.

Hakim-hakim 20:32

20:32 Then the Benjaminites said, “They are defeated just as before.” But the Israelites said, “Let’s retreat ³⁵  and lure them ³⁶  away from the city into the main roads.”

Hakim-hakim 14:9

14:9 He scooped it up with his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he returned ³⁷  to his father and mother, he offered them some and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had scooped the honey out of the lion’s carcass. ³⁸ 

Hakim-hakim 21:19

21:19 However, there is an annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel ³⁹  (east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem) and south of Lebonah.”

Hakim-hakim 20:45

20:45 The rest ⁴⁰  turned and ran toward the wilderness, heading toward the cliff of Rimmon. But the Israelites ⁴¹  caught ⁴²  five thousand of them on the main roads. They stayed right on their heels ⁴³  all the way to Gidom and struck down two thousand more.

Hakim-hakim 4:17

4:17 Now Sisera ran away on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, for King Jabin of Hazor ⁴⁴  and the family of Heber the Kenite had made a peace treaty. ⁴⁵ 

Hakim-hakim 2:17

2:17 But they did not obey ⁴⁶  their leaders. Instead they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped ⁴⁷  them. They quickly turned aside from the path ⁴⁸  their ancestors ⁴⁹  had walked. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord’s commands, but they did not. ⁵⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 20:31

20:31 The Benjaminites attacked ⁵¹  the army, leaving the city unguarded. ⁵²  They began to strike down their enemy ⁵³  just as they had done before. On the main roads (one leads to Bethel, ⁵⁴  the other to Gibeah) and in the field, they struck down ⁵⁵  about thirty Israelites.

Hakim-hakim 19:9

19:9 When the man got ready to leave ⁵⁶  with his concubine and his servant, ⁵⁷  his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look! The day is almost over! ⁵⁸  Stay another night! Since the day is over, ⁵⁹  stay another night here and have a good time. You can get up early tomorrow and start your trip home.” ⁶⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 5:20

5:20 From the sky ⁶¹  the stars ⁶²  fought,

from their paths in the heavens ⁶³  they fought against Sisera.

Hakim-hakim 8:11

8:11 Gideon went up the road of the nomads ⁶⁴  east of Nobah and Jogbehah and ambushed the surprised army. ⁶⁵ 

Hakim-hakim 11:29

A Foolish Vow Spells Death for a Daughter

11:29 The Lord’s spirit empowered ⁶⁶  Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh and went ⁶⁷  to Mizpah in Gilead. From there he approached the Ammonites. ⁶⁸ 

Hakim-hakim 11:32

11:32 Jephthah approached ⁶⁹  the Ammonites to fight with them, and the Lord handed them over to him.

Hakim-hakim 18:13

18:13 From there they traveled through the Ephraimite hill country and arrived at Micah’s house.

Hakim-hakim 4:8

4:8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go. But if you do not go with me, I will not go.”

Hakim-hakim 4:10

4:10 Barak summoned men from Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; ⁷⁰  Deborah went up with him as well.

Hakim-hakim 11:16

11:16 When they left ⁷¹  Egypt, Israel traveled ⁷²  through the desert as far as the Red Sea and then came to Kadesh.

Hakim-hakim 8:13

8:13 Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the pass ⁷³  of Heres.

Hakim-hakim 8:8

8:8 He went up from there to Penuel and made the same request. ⁷⁴  The men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth had. ⁷⁵ 

Hakim-hakim 19:28

19:28 He said to her, “Get up, let’s leave!” But there was no response. He put her on the donkey and went home. ⁷⁶ 

Hakim-hakim 4:9

4:9 She said, “I will indeed go with you. But you will not gain fame ⁷⁷  on the expedition you are undertaking, ⁷⁸  for the Lord will turn Sisera over to a woman.” ⁷⁹  Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Hakim-hakim 11:18

11:18 Then Israel ⁸⁰  went through the desert and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab. They traveled east of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon River; ⁸¹  they did not go through Moabite territory (the Arnon was Moab’s border).

Hakim-hakim 1:11

1:11 From there they attacked the people of Debir. ⁸²  (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.)

Hakim-hakim 7:4

7:4 The Lord spoke to Gideon again, “There are still too many men. ⁸³  Bring them down to the water and I will thin the ranks some more. ⁸⁴  When I say, ‘This one should go with you,’ pick him to go; ⁸⁵  when I say, ⁸⁶  ‘This one should not go with you,’ do not take him.” ⁸⁷ 

Hakim-hakim 19:13

19:13 He said to his servant, ⁸⁸  “Come on, we will go into one of the other towns ⁸⁹  and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”

Hakim-hakim 19:18

19:18 The Levite ⁹⁰  said to him, “We are traveling from Bethlehem ⁹¹  in Judah to the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. That’s where I’m from. I had business in Bethlehem in Judah, but now I’m heading home. ⁹²  But no one has invited me into their home.

Hakim-hakim 19:5

19:5 On the fourth day they woke up early and the Levite got ready to leave. ⁹³  But the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Have a bite to eat for some energy, ⁹⁴  then you can go.”

Hakim-hakim 19:17

19:17 When he looked up and saw the traveler ⁹⁵  in the town square, the old man said, “Where are you heading? Where do you come from?”

Hakim-hakim 5:4

5:4 O Lord, when you departed ⁹⁶  from Seir,

when you marched from Edom’s plains,

the earth shook, the heavens poured down,

the clouds poured down rain. ⁹⁷ 

Hakim-hakim 19:11

19:11 When they got near Jebus, it was getting quite late ⁹⁸  and the servant ⁹⁹  said to his master, “Come on, let’s stop at ¹⁰⁰  this Jebusite city and spend the night in it.”

Hakim-hakim 20:37

20:37 The men hiding in ambush made a mad dash ¹⁰¹  to Gibeah. They ¹⁰²  attacked ¹⁰³  and put the sword to the entire city.

Hakim-hakim 1:24

1:24 the spies spotted ¹⁰⁴  a man leaving the city. They said to him, “If you show us a secret entrance into the city, we will reward you.”

Hakim-hakim 3:3

3:3 These were the nations: ¹⁰⁵  the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath. ¹⁰⁶ 

Hakim-hakim 11:19-20

11:19 Israel sent messengers to King Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, “Please allow us to pass through your land to our land.” ¹⁰⁷  11:20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He ¹⁰⁸  assembled his whole army, ¹⁰⁹  camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

Hakim-hakim 1:2

1:2 The Lord said, “The men of Judah should take the lead. ¹¹⁰  Be sure of this! I am handing the land over to them.” ¹¹¹ 

Hakim-hakim 1:22

Partial Success

1:22 When the men ¹¹²  of Joseph attacked ¹¹³  Bethel, ¹¹⁴  the Lord was with them.

Hakim-hakim 5:21

5:21 The Kishon River carried them off;

the river confronted them ¹¹⁵  – the Kishon River.

Step on the necks of the strong! ¹¹⁶ 

Hakim-hakim 14:8

14:8 Some time later, when he went back to marry ¹¹⁷  her, he turned aside to see the lion’s remains. He saw ¹¹⁸  a swarm of bees in the lion’s carcass, as well as some honey.

Hakim-hakim 1:9

1:9 Later the men of Judah went down to attack the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the lowlands. ¹¹⁹ 

Hakim-hakim 8:33

Israel Returns to Baal-Worship

8:33 After Gideon died, the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They made Baal-Berith ¹²⁰  their god.

Hakim-hakim 9:40

9:40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ¹²¹  ran from him. Many Shechemites ¹²²  fell wounded at the entrance of the gate.

Hakim-hakim 18:11

18:11 So six hundred Danites, fully armed, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. ¹²³ 

Hakim-hakim 18:20

18:20 The priest was happy. He took the ephod, the personal idols, and the carved image and joined the group. ¹²⁴ 

Hakim-hakim 21:17

21:17 The ¹²⁵  remnant of Benjamin must be preserved. An entire Israelite tribe should not be wiped out. ¹²⁶ 

Hakim-hakim 1:3

1:3 The men of Judah said to their relatives, the men of Simeon, ¹²⁷  “Invade our allotted land with us and help us attack the Canaanites. ¹²⁸  Then we ¹²⁹  will go with you into your allotted land.” So the men of Simeon went with them.

Hakim-hakim 2:19

2:19 When a leader died, the next generation ¹³⁰  would again ¹³¹  act more wickedly than the previous one. ¹³²  They would follow after other gods, worshiping them ¹³³  and bowing down to them. They did not give up ¹³⁴  their practices or their stubborn ways.

Hakim-hakim 11:13

11:13 The Ammonite king said to Jephthah’s messengers, “Because Israel stole ¹³⁵  my land when they ¹³⁶  came up from Egypt – from the Arnon River in the south to the Jabbok River in the north, and as far west as the Jordan. ¹³⁷  Now return it ¹³⁸  peaceably!”

Hakim-hakim 11:17

11:17 Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please allow us ¹³⁹  to pass through your land.” But the king of Edom rejected the request. ¹⁴⁰  Israel sent the same request to the king of Moab, but he was unwilling to cooperate. ¹⁴¹  So Israel stayed at Kadesh.

Hakim-hakim 12:1

Civil Strife Mars the Victory

12:1 The Ephraimites assembled ¹⁴²  and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go and fight ¹⁴³  with the Ammonites without asking ¹⁴⁴  us to go with you? We will burn your house down right over you!” ¹⁴⁵ 

Hakim-hakim 19:10

19:10 But the man did not want to stay another night. He left ¹⁴⁶  and traveled as far as ¹⁴⁷  Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). ¹⁴⁸  He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys and his concubine. ¹⁴⁹ 

Hakim-hakim 20:18

20:18 The Israelites went up to Bethel ¹⁵⁰  and asked God, ¹⁵¹  “Who should lead the charge against the Benjaminites?” ¹⁵²  The Lord said, “Judah should lead.”

Hakim-hakim 20:42

20:42 They retreated before the Israelites, taking the road to the wilderness. But the battle overtook ¹⁵³  them as men from the surrounding cities struck them down. ¹⁵⁴ 

Hakim-hakim 21:23

21:23 The Benjaminites did as instructed. ¹⁵⁵  They abducted two hundred of the dancing girls to be their wives. ¹⁵⁶  They went home ¹⁵⁷  to their own territory, ¹⁵⁸  rebuilt their cities, and settled down. ¹⁵⁹ 

Hakim-hakim 1:1

Judah Takes the Lead

1:1 After Joshua died, the Israelites asked ¹⁶⁰  the Lord, “Who should lead the invasion against the Canaanites and launch the attack?” ¹⁶¹ 

Hakim-hakim 1:4

1:4 The men of Judah attacked, ¹⁶²  and the Lord handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They killed ten thousand men at Bezek.

Hakim-hakim 1:17

1:17 The men of Judah went with their brothers the men of Simeon ¹⁶³  and defeated the Canaanites living in Zephath. They wiped out Zephath. ¹⁶⁴  So people now call the city Hormah. ¹⁶⁵ 

Hakim-hakim 1:25

1:25 He showed them a secret entrance into the city, and they put the city to the sword. But they let the man and his extended family leave safely.

Hakim-hakim 3:12

Deceit, Assassination, and Deliverance

3:12 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. ¹⁶⁶  The Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel ¹⁶⁷  because they had done evil in the Lord’s sight.

Hakim-hakim 3:17

3:17 He brought the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.)

Hakim-hakim 3:27

3:27 When he reached Seirah, ¹⁶⁸  he blew a trumpet ¹⁶⁹  in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, with Ehud in the lead. ¹⁷⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 5:11

5:11 Hear ¹⁷¹  the sound of those who divide the sheep ¹⁷²  among the watering places;

there they tell of ¹⁷³  the Lord’s victorious deeds,

the victorious deeds of his warriors ¹⁷⁴  in Israel.

Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates –

Hakim-hakim 5:14

5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, ¹⁷⁵ 

they follow ¹⁷⁶  after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.

From Makir leaders came down,

from Zebulun came ¹⁷⁷  the ones who march carrying ¹⁷⁸  an officer’s staff.

Hakim-hakim 9:36

9:36 Gaal saw the men ¹⁷⁹  and said to Zebul, “Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills – it just looks like men.” ¹⁸⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 11:8

11:8 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That may be true, ¹⁸¹  but now we pledge to you our loyalty. ¹⁸²  Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader ¹⁸³  of all who live in Gilead.” ¹⁸⁴ 

Hakim-hakim 11:33

11:33 He defeated them from Aroer all the way to Minnith – twenty cities in all, even as far as Abel Keramim! He wiped them out! ¹⁸⁵  The Israelites humiliated the Ammonites. ¹⁸⁶ 

Hakim-hakim 11:37

11:37 She then said to her father, “Please grant me this one wish. ¹⁸⁷  For two months allow me to walk through the hills with my friends and mourn my virginity.” ¹⁸⁸ 

Hakim-hakim 17:7

Micah Hires a Professional

17:7 There was a young man from Bethlehem ¹⁸⁹  in Judah. He was a Levite who had been temporarily residing among the tribe of Judah. ¹⁹⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 17:9

17:9 Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” He replied, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I am looking for a new place to live.” ¹⁹¹ 

Hakim-hakim 18:12

18:12 They went up and camped in Kiriath Jearim in Judah. (To this day that place is called Camp of Dan. ¹⁹²  It is west ¹⁹³  of Kiriath Jearim.)

Hakim-hakim 19:8

19:8 He woke up early in the morning on the fifth day so he could leave, but the girl’s father said, “Get some energy. ¹⁹⁴  Wait until later in the day to leave!” ¹⁹⁵  So they ate a meal together.

Hakim-hakim 18:7

18:7 So the five men journeyed on ¹⁹⁶  and arrived in Laish. They noticed that the people there ¹⁹⁷  were living securely, like the Sidonians do, ¹⁹⁸  undisturbed and unsuspecting. No conqueror was troubling them in any way. ¹⁹⁹  They lived far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. ²⁰⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 3:1

3:1 These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel – he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites. ²⁰¹ 

Hakim-hakim 4:14

4:14 Deborah said to Barak, “Spring into action, ²⁰²  for this is the day the Lord is handing Sisera over to you! ²⁰³  Has the Lord not taken the lead?” ²⁰⁴  Barak quickly went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

Hakim-hakim 7:24

Gideon Appeases the Ephraimites

7:24 Now Gideon sent messengers throughout the Ephraimite hill country who announced, “Go down and head off the Midianites. ²⁰⁵  Take control of the fords of the streams ²⁰⁶  all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.” ²⁰⁷  When all the Ephraimites had assembled, ²⁰⁸  they took control of the fords ²⁰⁹  all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.

Hakim-hakim 9:49

9:49 So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches ²¹⁰  against the stronghold and set fire to it. ²¹¹  All the people ²¹²  of the Tower of Shechem died – about a thousand men and women.

Hakim-hakim 11:36

11:36 She said to him, “My father, since ²¹³  you made an oath to the Lord, do to me as you promised. ²¹⁴  After all, the Lord vindicated you before ²¹⁵  your enemies, the Ammonites.”

Hakim-hakim 18:2

18:2 The Danites sent out from their whole tribe five representatives, ²¹⁶  capable men ²¹⁷  from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. They said to them, “Go, explore the land.” They came to the Ephraimite hill country and spent the night at Micah’s house. ²¹⁸ 

Hakim-hakim 18:17

18:17 The five men who had gone to spy out the land broke in and stole ²¹⁹  the carved image, the ephod, the personal idols, and the metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance to the gate with the six hundred fully armed men. ²²⁰ 

Hakim-hakim 19:16

19:16 But then an old man passed by, returning at the end of the day from his work in the field. ²²¹  The man was from the Ephraimite hill country; he was living temporarily in Gibeah. (The residents of the town were Benjaminites.) ²²² 

Hakim-hakim 20:35

20:35 The Lord annihilated Benjamin before Israel; the Israelites struck down that day 25,100 sword-wielding Benjaminites. ²²³ 

Hakim-hakim 21:16

21:16 The leaders ²²⁴  of the assembly said, “How can we find wives for those who are left? ²²⁵  After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out.

[5:6]  ¹ tc The translation assumes the form אֳרְחוֹת (’orÿkhot, “caravans”) rather than אֳרָחוֹת (’orakhot, “roadways”) because it makes a tighter parallel with “travelers” in the next line.

[5:6]  ² tn Or “ceased.”

[5:6]  ³ tn Heb “Ones walking on paths.”

[5:10]  ⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word מִדִּין (middin, “saddle blankets”) in this context is uncertain.

[19:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “and they passed by and went.”

[19:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “which belongs to Benjamin.”

[18:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “in peace.”

[18:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “In front of the LORD is your way in which you are going.”

[18:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “They turned and went and put the children, the cattle, and the possessions in front of them.”

[18:5]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Ask God.”

[18:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “so we can know if our way on which we are going will be successful.”

[2:22]  ¹² tn The words “Joshua left those nations” are interpretive. The Hebrew text of v. 22 simply begins with “to test.” Some subordinate this phrase to “I will no longer remove” (v. 21). In this case the Lord announces that he has now decided to leave these nations as a test for Israel. Another possibility is to subordinate “to test” to “He said” (v. 20; see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 111). In this case the statement recorded in vv. 20b-21 is the test in that it forces Israel to respond either positively (through repentance) or negatively to the Lord’s declaration. A third possibility (the one reflected in the present translation) is to subordinate “to test” to “left unconquered” (v. 21). In this case the Lord recalls that Joshua left these nations as a test. Israel has failed the test (v. 20), so the Lord announces that the punishment threatened earlier (Josh 23:12-13; see also Judg 2:3) will now be implemented. As B. G. Webb (Judges [JSOTSup], 115) observes, “The nations which were originally left as a test are now left as a punishment.” This view best harmonizes v. 23, which explains that the Lord did not give all the nations to Joshua, with v. 22. (For a grammatical parallel, where the infinitive construct of נָסָה [nasah] is subordinated to the perfect of עָזַב [’azav], see 2 Chr 32:31.)

[2:22]  ¹³ tn The Hebrew text includes the phrase “by them,” but this is somewhat redundant in English and has been omitted from the translation for stylistic reasons.

[2:22]  ¹⁴ tn The words “I [i.e., the Lord] wanted to see” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[2:22]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:22]  ¹⁶ tn Or “way [of life].”

[2:22]  ¹⁷ tn “The words “marked out by” are interpretive.

[2:22]  ¹⁸ tn Or “fathers.”

[4:15]  ¹⁹ tn Or “caused to panic.”

[4:15]  ²⁰ tn The Hebrew text also includes the phrase “before Barak.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[4:15]  ²¹ tn Heb “got down from.”

[17:8]  ²² tn Heb “He came to the Ephraimite hill country, to Micah’s house, making his way.”

[18:26]  ²³ tn Heb “saw.”

[18:26]  ²⁴ tn Heb “they were stronger than he.”

[19:12]  ²⁵ tn Heb “who are not from the sons of Israel.”

[20:2]  ²⁶ tn Heb “the cornerstones”; or “the supports.” The word is used of leaders in only three other texts – 1 Sam 14:38; Isa 19:13; Zech 10:4.

[20:2]  ²⁷ tn The words “which numbered” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[9:25]  ²⁸ tn Heb “set against him bandits.”

[9:25]  sn Putting bandits in the hills. This piracy certainly interrupted or discouraged trade, and probably deprived Abimelech of tariffs or tribute. See C. F. Burney, Judges, 277; G. F. Moore, Judges (ICC), 253.

[9:25]  ²⁹ tn Heb “on the tops of.”

[9:25]  ³⁰ tn Heb “It was told to Abimelech.”

[9:37]  ³¹ tn Heb “navel.” On the background of the Hebrew expression “the navel of the land,” see R. G. Boling, Judges (AB), 178-79.

[9:37]  ³² tn Heb “head.”

[9:37]  ³³ tn Some English translations simply transliterated this as a place name (Heb “Elon-meonenim”); cf. NAB, NRSV.

[19:27]  ³⁴ tn The Hebrew term here translated “master,” is plural. The plural indicates degree here and emphasizes the Levite’s absolute sovereignty over the woman.

[20:32]  ³⁵ tn Or “run away.”

[20:32]  ³⁶ tn Heb “him” (collective singular).

[14:9]  ³⁷ tn Heb “went.” Samson apparently went home to his parents before going to Timnah for the marriage. Seeing and tasting the honey appears to encourage Manoah to go with his son to Timnah. Perhaps both Samson and his father viewed the honey as a good omen of future blessing. Possibly Samson considered it a symbol of sexual pleasure or an aphrodisiac. Note the use of honey imagery in Song 4:11 and 5:1.

[14:9]  ³⁸ sn Touching the carcass of a dead animal undoubtedly violated Samson’s Nazirite status. See Num 6:6.

[21:19]  ³⁹ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[20:45]  ⁴⁰ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the rest [of the Benjaminites]) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:45]  ⁴¹ tn Heb “and they”; the referent (the Israelites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:45]  ⁴² tn Heb “gleaned.” The word is an agricultural term which pictures Israelites picking off the Benjaminites as easily as one picks grapes from the vine.

[20:45]  ⁴³ tn Heb “stuck close after them.”

[4:17]  ⁴⁴ map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.

[4:17]  ⁴⁵ tn Heb “for there was peace between.”

[2:17]  ⁴⁶ tn Or “did not listen to.”

[2:17]  ⁴⁷ tn Or “bowed before.”

[2:17]  ⁴⁸ tn Or “way [of life].”

[2:17]  ⁴⁹ tn Or “fathers.”

[2:17]  ⁵⁰ tn Heb “…walked, obeying the Lord’s commands. They did not do this.”

[20:31]  ⁵¹ tn Heb “went out to meet.”

[20:31]  ⁵² tn Heb “and they were drawn away from the city.”

[20:31]  ⁵³ tn Heb “from the army wounded ones.”

[20:31]  ⁵⁴ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[20:31]  ⁵⁵ tn The words “they struck down” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[19:9]  ⁵⁶ tn Heb “the man arose to go.”

[19:9]  ⁵⁷ tn Or “young man.”

[19:9]  ⁵⁸ tn Heb “the day is sinking to become evening.”

[19:9]  ⁵⁹ tn Or “declining.”

[19:9]  ⁶⁰ tn Heb “for your way and go to your tent.”

[5:20]  ⁶¹ tn Or “from heaven.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.

[5:20]  ⁶² tn The MT takes “the stars” with what follows rather than with the first colon of v. 20. But for metrical reasons it seems better to move the atnach and read the colon as indicated in the translation.

[5:20]  ⁶³ tn The words “in the heavens” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[8:11]  ⁶⁴ tn Heb “the ones living in tents.”

[8:11]  ⁶⁵ tn Heb “and attacked the army, while the army was secure.” The Hebrew term בֶטַח (vetakh, “secure”) probably means the army was undefended (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 156), not suspecting an attack at that time and place.

[11:29]  ⁶⁶ tn Heb “was on.”

[11:29]  ⁶⁷ tn Heb “passed through.”

[11:29]  ⁶⁸ tn Heb “From Mizpah in Gilead he passed through [to] the Ammonites.”

[11:32]  ⁶⁹ tn Heb “passed over to.”

[4:10]  ⁷⁰ tn Heb “went up at his feet.”

[11:16]  ⁷¹ tn Heb “For when they went up from.”

[11:16]  ⁷² tn Or “went.”

[8:13]  ⁷³ tn Or “ascent.”

[8:8]  ⁷⁴ tn Heb “and spoke to them in the same way.”

[8:8]  ⁷⁵ tn Heb “The men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth answered.”

[19:28]  ⁷⁶ tn Heb “And the man took her on the donkey and arose and went to his place.”

[4:9]  ⁷⁷ tn Or “honor.”

[4:9]  ⁷⁸ tn Heb “on [account of (?)] the way which you are walking.” Another option is to translate, “due to the way you are going about this.” In this case direct reference is made to Barak’s hesitancy as the reason for his loss of glory.

[4:9]  ⁷⁹ tn Heb “for into the hands of a woman the Lord will sell Sisera.”

[11:18]  ⁸⁰ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Israel; the pronoun in the Hebrew text represents a collective singular) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[11:18]  ⁸¹ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:11]  ⁸² tn Heb “they went from there against the inhabitants of Debir.” The LXX reads the verb as “they went up,” which suggests that the Hebrew text translated by the LXX read וַיַּעַל (vayya’al) rather than the MT’s וַיֵּלֶךְ (vayyelekh). It is possible that this is the text to be preferred in v. 11. Cf. Josh 15:15.

[7:4]  ⁸³ tn Heb “too many people.”

[7:4]  ⁸⁴ tn Heb “test them for you there.”

[7:4]  ⁸⁵ tn Heb “he should go with you.”

[7:4]  ⁸⁶ tn Heb also has “to you.”

[7:4]  ⁸⁷ tn Heb “he should not go.”

[19:13]  ⁸⁸ tn Or “young man.”

[19:13]  ⁸⁹ tn Heb “we will enter one of the places.”

[19:18]  ⁹⁰ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Levite) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:18]  ⁹¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[19:18]  ⁹² tn Heb “I went to Bethlehem in Judah, but [to] the house of the LORD I am going.” The Hebrew text has “house of the LORD,” which might refer to the shrine at Shiloh. The LXX reads “to my house.”

[19:5]  ⁹³ tn Heb “and he arose to go.”

[19:5]  ⁹⁴ tn Heb “Sustain your heart [with] a bit of food.”

[19:17]  ⁹⁵ tn Heb “the man, the traveler.”

[5:4]  ⁹⁶ tn Or “went out.”

[5:4]  ⁹⁷ tn Heb “water.”

[19:11]  ⁹⁸ tn Heb “and the day was descending greatly.”

[19:11]  ⁹⁹ tn Or “young man.”

[19:11]  ¹⁰⁰ tn Heb “turn aside” (also in the following verse).

[20:37]  ¹⁰¹ tn Heb “hurried and put off [their hiding place].”

[20:37]  ¹⁰² tn Heb “the men hiding in ambush.”

[20:37]  ¹⁰³ tn Or “deployed.” The verb normally means “to lead” or “to draw.”

[1:24]  ¹⁰⁴ tn Heb “saw.”

[3:3]  ¹⁰⁵ tn The words “These were the nations,” though not present in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[3:3]  ¹⁰⁶ tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.”

[11:19]  ¹⁰⁷ tn Heb “to my place.”

[11:20]  ¹⁰⁸ tn Heb “Sihon.” The proper name (“Sihon”) has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun (“he”) because of English style; a repetition of the proper name here would be redundant in English.

[11:20]  ¹⁰⁹ tn Heb “all his people” (also in the following verse).

[1:2]  ¹¹⁰ tn Heb “Judah should go up.”

[1:2]  ¹¹¹ tn The Hebrew exclamation הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally, “Behold”), translated “Be sure of this,” draws attention to the following statement. The verb form in the following statement (a Hebrew perfect, indicating completed action from the standpoint of the speaker) emphasizes the certainty of the event. Though it had not yet taken place, the Lord speaks of it as a “done deal.”

[1:22]  ¹¹² tn Heb “house.” This is a metonymy for the warriors from the tribe.

[1:22]  ¹¹³ tn Heb “went up.”

[1:22]  ¹¹⁴ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[5:21]  ¹¹⁵ tn Possibly “the ancient river,” but it seems preferable in light of the parallel line (which has a verb) to emend the word (attested only here) to a verb (קָדַם, qadam) with pronominal object suffix.

[5:21]  ¹¹⁶ tn This line is traditionally taken as the poet-warrior’s self-exhortation, “March on, my soul, in strength!” The present translation (a) takes the verb (a second feminine singular form) as addressed to Deborah (cf. v. 12), (b) understands נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) in its well-attested sense of “throat; neck” (cf. Jonah 2:6), (c) takes the final yod (י) on נַפְשִׁי (nafshiy) as an archaic construct indicator (rather than a suffix), and (d) interprets עֹז (’oz, “strength”) as an attributive genitive (literally, “necks of strength,” i.e., “strong necks”). For fuller discussion and various proposals, see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 270-71.

[14:8]  ¹¹⁷ tn Heb “get.”

[14:8]  ¹¹⁸ tn Heb “and look, a swarm of bees…”

[1:9]  ¹¹⁹ tn Or “foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”

[8:33]  ¹²⁰ sn Baal-Berith was a local manifestation of the Canaanite storm god. The name means, ironically, “Baal of the covenant.” Israel’s covenant allegiance had indeed shifted.

[9:40]  ¹²¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gaal) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[9:40]  ¹²² tn The word “Shechemites” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for clarification.

[18:11]  ¹²³ tn Heb “They journeyed from there, from the tribe of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men, equipped with weapons of war.”

[18:20]  ¹²⁴ tn Heb “and went into the midst of the people.”

[21:17]  ¹²⁵ tn The Hebrew text has “and they said” at the beginning of the verse. For stylistic reasons the translation treats v. 17 as a continuation of the remarks of the leaders in v. 16.

[21:17]  ¹²⁶ tn Heb “An inheritance for the remnant belonging to Benjamin, and a tribe from Israel will not be wiped away.” The first statement lacks a verb. Some prefer to emend the text to read, “How can an inheritance remain for the remnant of Benjamin?”

[1:3]  ¹²⁷ tn Heb “Judah said to Simeon, his brother.”

[1:3]  ¹²⁸ tn Heb “Come up with me into our allotted land and let us attack the Canaanites.”

[1:3]  ¹²⁹ tn Heb “I.” The Hebrew pronoun is singular, agreeing with the collective singular “Judah” earlier in the verse. English style requires a plural pronoun here, however.

[2:19]  ¹³⁰ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the next generation) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:19]  ¹³¹ tn The verb שׁוּב (shuv, “to return; to turn”) is sometimes translated “turn back” here, but it is probably used in an adverbial sense, indicating that the main action (“act wickedly”) is being repeated.

[2:19]  ¹³² tn Heb “their fathers.”

[2:19]  sn The statement the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one must refer to the successive sinful generations after Joshua, not Joshua’s godly generation (cf. vv. 7, 17).

[2:19]  ¹³³ tn Or “serving [them]”; or “following [them].”

[2:19]  ¹³⁴ tn Or “drop.”

[11:13]  ¹³⁵ tn Or “took”; or “seized.”

[11:13]  ¹³⁶ tn Heb “he” (a collective singular).

[11:13]  ¹³⁷ tn Heb “from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan.” The word “River” has been supplied in the translation with “Arnon” and “Jabbok,” because these are less familiar to modern readers than the Jordan.

[11:13]  ¹³⁸ tc The translation assumes a singular suffix (“[return] it”); the Hebrew text has a plural suffix (“[return] them”), which, if retained, might refer to the cities of the land.

[11:17]  ¹³⁹ tn Heb “me.” (Collective Israel is the speaker.)

[11:17]  ¹⁴⁰ tn Heb “did not listen.”

[11:17]  ¹⁴¹ tn Heb “Also to the king of Moab he sent, but he was unwilling.”

[12:1]  ¹⁴² tn Heb “the men of Ephraim were summoned [or “were mustered”].”

[12:1]  ¹⁴³ tn Heb “cross over to fight.”

[12:1]  ¹⁴⁴ tn Or “calling”; or “summoning.”

[12:1]  ¹⁴⁵ tn Heb “Your house we will burn over you with fire.”

[19:10]  ¹⁴⁶ tn Heb “and he arose and went.”

[19:10]  ¹⁴⁷ tn Heb “to the front of.”

[19:10]  ¹⁴⁸ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[19:10]  ¹⁴⁹ tc Some ancient witnesses add “and his servant.”

[20:18]  ¹⁵⁰ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[20:18]  ¹⁵¹ tn Heb “They arose and went up to Bethel and asked God, and the Israelites said.”

[20:18]  ¹⁵² tn Heb “Who should go up for us first for battle against the sons of Benjamin?”

[20:42]  ¹⁵³ tn Heb “clung to”; or “stuck close.”

[20:42]  ¹⁵⁴ tn Heb “and those from the cities were striking them down in their midst.”

[21:23]  ¹⁵⁵ tn Heb “did so.”

[21:23]  ¹⁵⁶ tn Heb “And they took wives according to their number from the dancing girls whom they abducted.”

[21:23]  ¹⁵⁷ tn Heb “went and returned.”

[21:23]  ¹⁵⁸ tn Heb “inheritance.”

[21:23]  ¹⁵⁹ tn Heb “and lived in them.”

[1:1]  ¹⁶⁰ tn The Hebrew verb translated “asked” (שָׁאַל, sha’al) refers here to consulting the Lord through a prophetic oracle; cf. NAB “consulted.”

[1:1]  ¹⁶¹ tn Heb “Who should first go up for us against the Canaanites to attack them?”

[1:4]  ¹⁶² tn Heb “Judah went up.”

[1:17]  ¹⁶³ tn Heb “Judah went with Simeon, his brother.”

[1:17]  ¹⁶⁴ tn Heb “it”; the referent (the city of Zephath) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:17]  ¹⁶⁵ sn The name Hormah (חָרְמָה, khormah) sounds like the Hebrew verb translated “wipe out” (חָרַם, kharam).

[3:12]  ¹⁶⁶ tn Heb “in the eyes of the Lord” (also later in this verse).

[3:12]  ¹⁶⁷ tn Heb “strengthened Eglon…against Israel.”

[3:27]  ¹⁶⁸ tn Heb “When he arrived.”

[3:27]  ¹⁶⁹ tn That is, “mustered an army.”

[3:27]  ¹⁷⁰ tn Heb “now he was before them.”

[5:11]  ¹⁷¹ tn The word “Hear” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:11]  ¹⁷² tn The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain. Some translate “those who distribute the water” (HALOT 344 s.v. חצץ pi). For other options see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 246-47.

[5:11]  ¹⁷³ tn Or perhaps “repeat.”

[5:11]  ¹⁷⁴ tn See the note on the term “warriors” in v. 7.

[5:14]  ¹⁷⁵ tn Heb “From Ephraim their root in Amalek” (the words “they came” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons). Because of the difficulty of the MT, many prefer to follow one of the ancient versions or emend the text. For various proposals see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 252-53. The present translation repoints שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham, traditionally translated “their root”) as a Piel verb form with enclitic mem (ם). The preposition ב (bet) on עֲמָלֵק (’amaleq) introduces the object (see Job 31:12 for an example of the construction). Ephraim’s territory encompassed the hill country of the Amalekites (Judg 12:15).

[5:14]  ¹⁷⁶ tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ¹⁷⁷ tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ¹⁷⁸ tn Or possibly “who carry.”

[9:36]  ¹⁷⁹ tn Heb “the people” (also in vv. 38, 43, 48). These were warriors, so “men” has been used in the translation, since in ancient Israelite culture soldiers would have been exclusively males.

[9:36]  ¹⁸⁰ tn Heb “the shadow on the hills you are seeing, like men.”

[11:8]  ¹⁸¹ tn Heb “therefore”; “even so.” For MT לָכֵן (lakhen, “therefore”) the LXX has an opposite reading, “not so,” which seems to be based on the Hebrew words לֹא כֵן (lo’ khen).

[11:8]  ¹⁸² tn Heb “we have returned to you.” For another example of שׁוּב אֶל (shuv ’el) in the sense of “give allegiance to,” see 1 Kgs 12:27b.

[11:8]  ¹⁸³ sn Then you will become the leader. The leaders of Gilead now use the word רֹאשׁ (ro’sh, “head, leader”), the same term that appeared in their original, general offer (see 10:18). In their initial offer to Jephthah they had simply invited him to be their קָצִין (qatsin, “commander”; v. 6). When he resists they must offer him a more attractive reward – rulership over the region. See R. G. Boling, Judges (AB), 198.

[11:8]  ¹⁸⁴ tn Heb “leader of us and all who live in Gilead.”

[11:33]  ¹⁸⁵ tn Heb “with a very great slaughter.”

[11:33]  ¹⁸⁶ tn Heb “The Ammonites were humbled before the Israelites.”

[11:37]  ¹⁸⁷ tn Heb “Let this thing be done for me.”

[11:37]  ¹⁸⁸ tn Heb “Leave me alone for two months so I can go and go down on the hills and weep over my virginity – I and my friends.”

[17:7]  ¹⁸⁹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[17:7]  ¹⁹⁰ tn Heb “There was a young man from Bethlehem of Judah, from the tribe of Judah, and he was a Levite, and he was temporarily residing there.”

[17:9]  ¹⁹¹ tn Heb “And I am going to reside in a place I can find.”

[18:12]  ¹⁹² tn Or “Mahaneh Dan”; the Hebrew term “Mahaneh” means “camp [of].” Many English versions retain the transliterated Hebrew expression, but cf. CEV “Dan’s Camp.”

[18:12]  ¹⁹³ tn Heb “behind.”

[19:8]  ¹⁹⁴ tn Heb “Sustain your heart.” He is once more inviting him to stay for a meal.

[19:8]  ¹⁹⁵ tn Heb “Wait until the declining of the day.”

[18:7]  ¹⁹⁶ tn Or “went.”

[18:7]  ¹⁹⁷ tn Heb “who were in its midst.”

[18:7]  ¹⁹⁸ tn Heb “according to the custom of the Sidonians.”

[18:7]  ¹⁹⁹ tn Heb “and there was no one humiliating anything in the land, one taking possession [by] force.”

[18:7]  ²⁰⁰ tc Heb “and a thing there was not to them with men.” Codex Alexandrinus (A) of the LXX and Symmachus read “Syria” here rather than the MT’s “men.” This reading presupposes a Hebrew Vorlage אֲרָם (’aram, “Aram,” i.e., Arameans) rather than the MT reading אָדָם (’adam). This reading is possibly to be preferred over the MT.

[3:1]  ²⁰¹ tn Heb “did not know the wars of Canaan.”

[4:14]  ²⁰² tn Heb “Arise!”

[4:14]  ²⁰³ tn The verb form (a Hebrew perfect, indicating completed action from the standpoint of the speaker) emphasizes the certainty of the event. Though it had not yet taken place, the Lord speaks of it as a “done deal.”

[4:14]  ²⁰⁴ tn Heb “Has the Lord not gone out before you?”

[7:24]  ²⁰⁵ tn Heb “to meet Midian.”

[7:24]  ²⁰⁶ tn Heb “capture before them the waters.”

[7:24]  ²⁰⁷ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification (also later in this verse).

[7:24]  ²⁰⁸ tn Heb “And all the men of Ephraim were summoned.”

[7:24]  ²⁰⁹ tn Heb “they captured the waters.”

[9:49]  ²¹⁰ tn The words “the branches” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[9:49]  ²¹¹ tn Heb “they kindled over them the stronghold with fire.”

[9:49]  ²¹² tn Or “men,” but the word seems to have a more general sense here, as the conclusion to the sentence suggests.

[11:36]  ²¹³ tn The conjunction “since” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[11:36]  ²¹⁴ tn Heb “you opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to [what] went out from your mouth.”

[11:36]  ²¹⁵ tn Or “has given you vengeance against.”

[18:2]  ²¹⁶ tn Heb “The Danites sent from their tribe five men, from their borders.”

[18:2]  ²¹⁷ tn Heb “men, sons of strength.”

[18:2]  ²¹⁸ tn Heb “They came to the Ephraimite hill country, to Micah’s house, and spent the night there.”

[18:17]  ²¹⁹ tn Heb “went up, went in there, took.”

[18:17]  ²²⁰ tn Heb “six hundred men, equipped with the weapons of war.”

[19:16]  ²²¹ tn Heb “And look, an old man was coming from his work, from the field in the evening.”

[19:16]  ²²² tn Heb “And the men of the place were Benjaminites.”

[20:35]  ²²³ tn Heb “And the sons of Israel struck down in Benjamin that day 25,100 men, all of these wielding the sword.”

[21:16]  ²²⁴ tn Or “elders.”

[21:16]  ²²⁵ tn Heb “What should we do for the remaining ones concerning wives?”