Judges 10:18

10:18 The leaders ¹  of Gilead said to one another, “Who is willing to lead the charge ²  against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!”

Judges 11:8

11:8 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That may be true, ³  but now we pledge to you our loyalty. ⁴  Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader ⁵  of all who live in Gilead.” ⁶ 

Judges 16:7

16:7 Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh ⁷  bowstrings ⁸  that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.”

Judges 16:11

16:11 He said to her, “If they tie me tightly with brand new ropes that have never been used, ⁹  I will become weak and be just like any other man.”

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¹ tn Heb “the people, the officers.”

² tn Heb “Who is the man who will begin fighting.”

³ 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).

⁴ 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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ tn Heb “leader of us and all who live in Gilead.”

⁷ tn Or “moist.”

⁸ tn The word refers to a bowstring, probably made from animal tendons. See Ps 11:2; Job 30:11.

⁹ tn Heb “with which no work has been done.”