Discovery BoxJudges 2:20 
Context2:20 The Lord was furious with Israel. 1 He said, “This nation 2 has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors 3 by disobeying me. 4
Judges 7:2
Context7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. 5 Israel might brag, 6 ‘Our own strength has delivered us.’ 7
Judges 7:17-18
Context7:17 He said to them, “Watch me and do as I do. Watch closely! 8 I am going to the edge of the camp. Do as I do! 7:18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, you also blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”
Judges 8:7
Context8:7 Gideon said, “Since you will not help, 9 after the Lord hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh 10 your skin 11 with 12 desert thorns and briers.”
Judges 10:12
Context10:12 the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian 13 when they oppressed you? 14 You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power. 15
Judges 11:27
Context11:27 I have not done you wrong, 16 but you are doing wrong 17 by attacking me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites!’”
Judges 14:13
Context14:13 But if you cannot solve it, 18 you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.” They said to him, “Let us hear your riddle.” 19
Judges 16:26
Context16:26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand, “Position me so I can touch the pillars that support the temple. 20 Then I can lean on them.”
Judges 17:10
Context17:10 Micah said to him, “Stay with me. Become my adviser 21 and priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, plus clothes and food.” 22
1 tn Or “The
2 tn Heb “Because this nation.”
3 tn Heb “my covenant which I commanded their fathers.”
4 tn Heb “and has not listened to my voice.” The expression “to not listen to [God’s] voice” is idiomatic here for disobeying him.
5 tn Heb “the people who are with you are too numerous for me to give Midian into their hand.”
6 tn Heb “might glorify itself against me.”
7 tn Heb “my hand has delivered me.”
8 tn Or “look.”
9 tn Heb “Therefore.”
10 sn I will thresh. The metaphor is agricultural. Threshing was usually done on a hard threshing floor. As farm animals walked over the stalks, pulling behind them a board embedded with sharp stones, the stalks and grain would be separated. See O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 63-65. Gideon threatens to use thorns and briers on his sledge.
11 tn Or “flesh.”
12 tn This is apparently a rare instrumental use of the Hebrew preposition אֵת (’et, note the use of ב [bet] in v. 16). Some, however, argue that אֵת more naturally indicates accompaniment (“together with”). In this case Gideon envisions threshing their skin along with thorns and briers, just as the stalks and grain are intermingled on the threshing floor. See C. F. Burney, Judges, 229-30.
13 tc The translation follows the LXX which reads “Midian”; the Hebrew text has “Maon.”
14 tn The words “Did I not deliver you” are interpretive. The Hebrew text simply reads, “Is it not from Egypt…when they oppressed you?” Perhaps the incomplete sentence reflects the
15 tn Heb “hand.”
16 tn Or “sinned against you.”
17 tn Or “evil.”
18 tn Heb “you are unable to tell me.”
19 tn Heb “Give your riddle so we can hear it.”
20 tn Heb “the pillars upon which the house is founded.”
21 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).
22 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.
