Judges 2:3

2:3 At that time I also warned you, ¹  ‘If you disobey, ²  I will not drive out the Canaanites ³  before you. They will ensnare you ⁴  and their gods will lure you away.’” ⁵ 

Judges 8:19

8:19 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. I swear, ⁶  as surely as the Lord is alive, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.”

Judges 9:15

9:15 The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to choose ⁷  me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! ⁸  Otherwise ⁹  may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

Judges 9:20

9:20 But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!”

Judges 11:9

11:9 Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, “All right! ¹⁰  If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me, ¹¹  I will be your leader.” ¹² 

Judges 12:5

12:5 The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan River ¹³  opposite Ephraim. ¹⁴  Whenever an Ephraimite fugitive ¹⁵  said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead asked ¹⁶  him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”

Judges 14:12

14:12 Samson said to them, “I will give you a riddle. If you really can solve it during the seven days the party lasts, ¹⁷  I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets ¹⁸  of clothes.

Judges 16:7

16:7 Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh ¹⁹  bowstrings ²⁰  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, ²¹  I will become weak and be just like any other man.”

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¹ tn Heb “And I also said.” The use of the perfect tense here suggests that the messenger is recalling an earlier statement (see Josh 23:12-13). However, some translate, “And I also say,” understanding the following words as an announcement of judgment upon those gathered at Bokim.

² tn The words “If you disobey” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See Josh 23:12-13.

³ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the Canaanites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צִדִּים (tsiddim) is uncertain in this context. It may be related to an Akkadian cognate meaning “snare.” If so, a more literal translation would be “they will become snares to you.” Normally the term in question means “sides,” but this makes no sense here. On the basis of Num 33:55 some suggest the word for “thorns” has been accidentally omitted. If this word is added, the text would read, “they will become [thorns] in your sides” (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).

⁵ tn Heb “their gods will become a snare to you.”

⁶ tn The words “I swear” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

⁷ tn Heb “are about to anoint [with oil].”

⁸ tn Heb “in my shade.”

⁹ tn Heb “If not.”

¹⁰ tn “All right” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

¹¹ tn Heb “places them before me.”

¹² tn Some translate the final statement as a question, “will I really be your leader?” An affirmative sentence is preferable. Jephthah is repeating the terms of the agreement in an official manner. In v. 10 the leaders legally agree to these terms.

¹³ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification.

¹⁴ tn Or “against Ephraim,” that is, so as to prevent Ephraim from crossing.

¹⁵ tn The Hebrew text has a plural form here.

¹⁶ tn Heb “say to.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “If you really can tell it to me [during] the seven days of the feast and you find [its answer].”

¹⁸ tn Heb “changes.”

¹⁹ tn Or “moist.”

²⁰ tn The word refers to a bowstring, probably made from animal tendons. See Ps 11:2; Job 30:11.

²¹ tn Heb “with which no work has been done.”