Judges 8:27

8:27 Gideon used all this to make 1  an ephod, 2  which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. All the Israelites 3  prostituted themselves to it by worshiping it 4  there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Judges 9:9

9:9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!’ 5 

Judges 9:13

9:13 But the grapevine said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!’ 6 

Judges 20:2

20:2 The leaders 7  of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, which numbered 8  four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers.

Judges 21:19

21:19 However, there is an annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel 9  (east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem) and south of Lebonah.”

1 tn Heb “made it into.”

2 sn In Exod 28:4-6 and several other texts an ephod is described as a priestly or cultic garment. In some cases an ephod is used to obtain a divine oracle (1 Sam 23:9; 30:7). Here the ephod is made of gold and is described as being quite heavy (70-75 lbs?). Some identify it as an idol, but it was more likely a cultic object fashioned in the form of a garment which was used for oracular purposes. For discussion of the ephod in the OT, see C. F. Burney, Judges, 236-43, and R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 349-52.

3 tn Heb “Israel” (a collective singular).

4 tn The words “by worshiping it” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

5 tn Heb “Should I stop my abundance, with which they honor gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?” The negative sentence in the translation reflects the force of the rhetorical question.

6 tn Heb “Should I stop my wine, which makes happy gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?” The negative sentence in the translation reflects the force of the rhetorical question.

7 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.

8 tn The words “which numbered” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

9 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.