5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, 1
they follow 2 after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.
From Makir leaders came down,
from Zebulun came 3 the ones who march carrying 4 an officer’s staff.
8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies. There were about fifteen thousand survivors from the army of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand sword-wielding soldiers had been killed. 5
1 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).
2 tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
3 tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Or possibly “who carry.”
5 tn Heb “About fifteen thousand [in number] were all the ones remaining from the army of the sons of the east. The fallen ones were a hundred and twenty thousand [in number], men drawing the sword.”
6 tn Heb “the cornerstones”; or “the supports.” The word is used of leaders in only three other texts – 1 Sam 14:38; Isa 19:13; Zech 10:4.
7 tn The words “which numbered” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
8 tn Heb “heavy”; or “severe.”
9 tn Heb “And they did not know that touching against them was disaster.”