5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, 4
they follow 5 after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.
From Makir leaders came down,
from Zebulun came 6 the ones who march carrying 7 an officer’s staff.
5:31 May all your enemies perish like this, O Lord!
But may those who love you shine
like the rising sun at its brightest!” 8
And the land had rest for forty years.
12:1 The Ephraimites assembled 30 and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go and fight 31 with the Ammonites without asking 32 us to go with you? We will burn your house down right over you!” 33
12:2 Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites. 34 I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power. 35
15:18 He was very thirsty, so he cried out to the Lord and said, “You have given your servant 39 this great victory. But now must I die of thirst and fall into hands of the Philistines?” 40
16:15 She said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you will not share your secret with me? 41 Three times you have deceived me and have not told me what makes you so strong.”
1 tn Heb “for the Lord has given your enemies, Moab, into your hand.” The verb form (a Hebrew perfect, indicating completed action from the standpoint of the speaker) emphasizes the certainty of the event. Though it had not yet taken place, the
2 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for clarity.
3 tn Or “against Moab,” that is, so as to prevent the Moabites from crossing.
4 tn Heb “From Ephraim their root in Amalek” (the words “they came” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons). Because of the difficulty of the MT, many prefer to follow one of the ancient versions or emend the text. For various proposals see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 252-53. The present translation repoints שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham, traditionally translated “their root”) as a Piel verb form with enclitic mem (ם). The preposition ב (bet) on עֲמָלֵק (’amaleq) introduces the object (see Job 31:12 for an example of the construction). Ephraim’s territory encompassed the hill country of the Amalekites (Judg 12:15).
5 tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
6 tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
7 tn Or possibly “who carry.”
8 tn Heb “But may those who love him be like the going forth of the sun in its strength.”
9 tn Heb “Do not fear.”
10 tn Heb “you have not listened to my voice.”
11 tn Heb “and let him die.” The jussive form with vav after the imperative is best translated as a purpose clause.
12 tn Heb “Speak into the ears of.”
13 tn Heb “What good is it to you?”
14 tn Heb “your bone and your flesh.”
15 tn Heb “are about to anoint [with oil].”
16 tn Heb “in my shade.”
17 tn Heb “If not.”
18 tn Heb “is your mouth that says.”
19 tn Heb “the people.”
20 tn Or “despised.”
21 tn The Hebrew text adds, “and said to him.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
22 tn The Hebrew text adds, “concerning me.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
23 tn “All right” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
24 tn Heb “places them before me.”
25 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.
26 tn Heb “Is it not so that what Chemosh your god causes you to possess, you possess, and all whom the
27 tn The conjunction “since” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
28 tn Heb “you opened your mouth to the
29 tn Or “has given you vengeance against.”
30 tn Heb “the men of Ephraim were summoned [or “were mustered”].”
31 tn Heb “cross over to fight.”
32 tn Or “calling”; or “summoning.”
33 tn Heb “Your house we will burn over you with fire.”
34 tn Heb A man of great strife I was and my people and the Ammonites.”
35 tn Heb “hand.”
36 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.
37 tn Heb “hating, you hated.” Once again the girl’s father uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis.
38 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’]).”
39 tn Heb “you have placed into the hand of your servant.”
40 tn Heb “the uncircumcised,” which in context refers to the Philistines.
41 tn Heb “when your heart is not with me.”
42 tn Or “When they were near.”
43 tn Heb “voice.” This probably means that “his speech was Judahite [i.e., southern] like their own, not Israelite [i.e., northern]” (R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 263).
44 tn Heb “turned aside.”
45 tn Heb “What [is there] to you here?”
46 tn Heb “men, sons of strength.”
47 tn Heb “there.”
48 tn Heb “the edge of the sword.”