Judges 7:24

Gideon Appeases the Ephraimites

7:24 Now Gideon sent messengers throughout the Ephraimite hill country who announced, “Go down and head off the Midianites. ¹  Take control of the fords of the streams ²  all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.” ³  When all the Ephraimites had assembled, ⁴  they took control of the fords ⁵  all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.

Judges 16:17

16:17 Finally he told her his secret. ⁶  He said to her, “My hair has never been cut, ⁷  for I have been dedicated to God ⁸  from the time I was conceived. ⁹  If my head ¹⁰  were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be just like all other men.”

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¹ tn Heb “to meet Midian.”

² tn Heb “capture before them the waters.”

³ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification (also later in this verse).

⁴ tn Heb “And all the men of Ephraim were summoned.”

⁵ tn Heb “they captured the waters.”

⁶ tn Heb “all his heart.”

⁷ tn Heb “a razor has not come upon my head.”

⁸ tn Or “set apart to God.” Traditionally the Hebrew term נָזִיר (nazir) has been translated “Nazirite.” The word is derived from the verb נָזַר (nazar, “to dedicate; to consecrate; to set apart”).

⁹ tn Heb “from the womb of my mother.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “I.” The referent has been made more specific in the translation (“my head”).