Hakim-hakim 5:14

5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, ¹ 

they follow ²  after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.

From Makir leaders came down,

from Zebulun came ³  the ones who march carrying ⁴  an officer’s staff.

Hakim-hakim 5:18

5:18 The men of Zebulun were not concerned about their lives; ⁵ 

Naphtali charged on to the battlefields. ⁶ 

Hakim-hakim 6:35

6:35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh and summoned them to follow him as well. ⁷  He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet him.

[5:14]  ¹ 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]  ² tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ³ tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ⁴ tn Or possibly “who carry.”

[5:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “Zebulun was a people which despised its life even unto death.”

[5:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “Naphtali was on the heights of the field.”

[6:35]  ⁷ tn Heb “and he also was summoned after him.”