Judges 9:38

9:38 Zebul said to him, “Where now are your bragging words, ¹  ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the men ²  you insulted? ³  Go out now and fight them!”

Judges 15:2

15:2 Her father said, “I really thought ⁴  you absolutely despised ⁵  her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is more attractive than she is. Take her instead!” ⁶ 

Judges 17:10

17:10 Micah said to him, “Stay with me. Become my adviser ⁷  and priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, plus clothes and food.” ⁸ 

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¹ tn Heb “is your mouth that says.”

² tn Heb “the people.”

³ tn Or “despised.”

⁴ 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.

⁵ tn Heb “hating, you hated.” Once again the girl’s father uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis.

⁶ 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’]).”

⁷ tn Heb “father.” “Father” is here a title of honor that suggests the priest will give advice and protect the interests of the family, primarily by divining God’s will in matters, perhaps through the use of the ephod. (See R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 257; also Gen 45:8, where Joseph, who was a diviner and interpreter of dreams, is called Pharaoh’s “father,” and 2 Kgs 6:21; 13:14, where a prophet is referred to as a “father.” Note also 2 Kgs 8:9, where a king identifies himself as a prophet’s “son.” One of a prophet’s main functions was to communicate divine oracles. Cf. 2 Kgs 8:9ff.; 13:14-19).

⁸ tn The Hebrew text expands with the phrase: “and the Levite went.” This only makes sense if taken with “to live” in the next verse. Apparently “the Levite went” and “the Levite agreed” are alternative readings which have been juxtaposed in the text.