3:27 When he reached Seirah, 6 he blew a trumpet 7 in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, with Ehud in the lead. 8
14:10 Then Samson’s father accompanied him to Timnah for the marriage. 32 Samson hosted a party 33 there, for this was customary for bridegrooms 34 to do.
1 tn “Caleb’s younger brother” may refer to Othniel or to Kenaz (in which case Othniel was Caleb’s nephew; so CEV).
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Caleb) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “saw.”
4 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Heb “in the territory of his inheritance.”
6 tn Heb “When he arrived.”
7 tn That is, “mustered an army.”
8 tn Heb “now he was before them.”
9 sn Some interpreters equate the
10 tn Heb “Go in this strength of yours.”
11 tn Heb “the hand of Midian.”
12 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
13 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.
14 tn Heb “with what.”
15 tn Heb “in my father’s house.”
16 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
17 tn Heb “If I have found favor in your eyes.”
18 tn Heb “perform for me.”
19 tn Heb “Take the meat…and put [it] on this rock.”
20 tn Heb “and he did so.”
21 tn Heb “empty and reckless.”
22 tn Heb “and they followed him.”
23 tn Heb “house.”
24 tn Heb “then rejoice in Abimelech, and may he also rejoice in you.”
25 tn Heb “Look! He and the people who are with him will come out to you, and you will do to him what your hand finds [to do].”
26 tn Or “fled from.”
27 tn Heb “brothers.”
28 tn Heb “Empty men joined themselves to Jephthah and went out with him.”
29 tn Heb “spoke all his words.” This probably refers to the “words” recorded in v. 9. Jephthah repeats the terms of the agreement at the
30 tn Or “take”; or “seize.”
31 tn Heb “to my place.”
32 tn Heb “And his father went down to the woman.”
33 tn Or “[wedding] feast.”
34 tn Heb “the young men.”
35 tn Heb “you are unable to tell me.”
36 tn Heb “Give your riddle so we can hear it.”
37 tn Heb “And I am going to reside in a place I can find.”
38 tn Heb “father.” “Father” is here a title of honor that suggests the priest will give advice and protect the interests of the family, primarily by divining God’s will in matters, perhaps through the use of the ephod. (See R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 257; also Gen 45:8, where Joseph, who was a diviner and interpreter of dreams, is called Pharaoh’s “father,” and 2 Kgs 6:21; 13:14, where a prophet is referred to as a “father.” Note also 2 Kgs 8:9, where a king identifies himself as a prophet’s “son.” One of a prophet’s main functions was to communicate divine oracles. Cf. 2 Kgs 8:9ff.; 13:14-19).
39 tn The Hebrew text expands with the phrase: “and the Levite went.” This only makes sense if taken with “to live” in the next verse. Apparently “the Levite went” and “the Levite agreed” are alternative readings which have been juxtaposed in the text.
40 tn Heb “Ask God.”
41 tn Heb “so we can know if our way on which we are going will be successful.”
42 tn Heb “turned aside.”
43 tn Heb “Micah’s house.”
44 tn Heb “they asked him concerning peace.”
45 tn Heb “bitter in spirit.” This phrase is used in 2 Sam 17:8 of David and his warriors, who are compared to a bear robbed of her cubs.
46 tn Heb “and you will gather up your life and the life of your house.”
47 tn Heb “and his concubine.” The pronoun (“she”) has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons.
48 tn Or “was unfaithful to him.” Many have understood the Hebrew verb וַתִּזְנֶה (vattizneh) as being from זָנָה (zanah, “to be a prostitute”), but it may be derived from a root meaning “to be angry; to hate” attested in Akkadian (see HALOT 275 s.v. II זנה).
49 tn Heb “went from him.”
50 tn Heb “who are not from the sons of Israel.”