Hakim-hakim 8:2

8:2 He said to them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim’s leftover grapes ¹  are better quality than Abiezer’s harvest! ² 

Hakim-hakim 9:29

9:29 If only these men ³  were under my command, ⁴  I would get rid of Abimelech!” He challenged Abimelech, ⁵  “Muster ⁶  your army and come out for battle!” ⁷ 

[8:2]  ¹ tn Heb “gleanings.”

[8:2]  ² sn Ephraim’s leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer’s harvest. Gideon employs an agricultural metaphor. He argues that Ephraim’s mopping up operations, though seemingly like the inferior grapes which are missed initially by the harvesters or left for the poor, are actually more noteworthy than the military efforts of Gideon’s family.

[9:29]  ³ tn Heb “people.”

[9:29]  ⁴ tn Heb “in my hand.”

[9:29]  sn If only these men were under my command. One might assume from v. 26b that the men were already at his disposal, but perhaps that was not one of the terms of the agreement. Another possibility is that v. 26 is a general summary statement, with vv. 27-29 then detailing how the alliance with Gaal came about.

[9:29]  ⁵ tn Heb “said to Abimelech.” On the other hand, the preposition ל (lamed) prefixed to the proper name may be vocative (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 178). If so, one could translate, “He boasted, ‘Abimelech…’”

[9:29]  ⁶ tn Heb “Make numerous.”

[9:29]  ⁷ tn The words “for battle” are interpretive.