Judges 15:2

15:2 Her father said, “I really thought ¹  you absolutely despised ²  her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is more attractive than she is. Take her instead!” ³ 

Judges 20:5

20:5 The leaders of Gibeah attacked me and at night surrounded the house where I was staying. ⁴  They wanted to kill me; instead they abused my concubine so badly that she died.

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¹ tn Heb “saying, I said.” The first person form of אָמַר (’amar, “to say”) sometimes indicates self-reflection. The girl’s father uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis.

² tn Heb “hating, you hated.” Once again the girl’s father uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis.

³ tn Heb “Is her younger sister not better than her? Let her [i.e., the younger sister] be yours instead of her [i.e., Samson’s ‘bride’]).”

⁴ tn Heb “arose against me and surrounded against me the house at night.”