¹ tn Heb “And I also said.” The use of the perfect tense here suggests that the messenger is recalling an earlier statement (see Josh 23:12-13). However, some translate, “And I also say,” understanding the following words as an announcement of judgment upon those gathered at Bokim.

² tn The words “If you disobey” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See Josh 23:12-13.

³ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the Canaanites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צִדִּים (tsiddim) is uncertain in this context. It may be related to an Akkadian cognate meaning “snare.” If so, a more literal translation would be “they will become snares to you.” Normally the term in question means “sides,” but this makes no sense here. On the basis of Num 33:55 some suggest the word for “thorns” has been accidentally omitted. If this word is added, the text would read, “they will become [thorns] in your sides” (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).

⁵ tn Heb “their gods will become a snare to you.”

⁶ tn Heb “hand” (also a second time later in this verse).

⁷ tn Heb “Is it not so that what Chemosh your god causes you to possess, you possess, and all whom the Lord our God dispossesses before us we will possess?” Jephthah speaks of Chemosh as if he is on a par with the Lord God of Israel. This does not necessarily mean that Jephthah is polytheistic or that he recognizes the Lord as only a local deity. He may simply be assuming the Ammonite king’s perspective for the sake of argument. Other texts, as well as the extrabiblical Mesha inscription, associate Chemosh with Moab, while Milcom is identified as the god of the Ammonites. Why then does Jephthah refer to Chemosh as the Ammonite god? Ammon had likely conquered Moab and the Ammonite king probably regarded himself as heir of all territory formerly held by Moab. Originally Moab had owned the disputed territory (cf. Num 21:26-29), meaning that Chemosh was regarded as the god of the region (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 203-4). Jephthah argues that Chemosh had long ago relinquished claim to the area (by allowing Sihon to conquer it), while the Lord had long ago established jurisdiction over it (by taking it from Sihon and giving it to Israel). Both sides should abide by the decisions of the gods which had stood firm for three hundred years.

⁸ tn The conjunction “since” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

⁹ tn Heb “you opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to [what] went out from your mouth.”

¹⁰ tn Or “has given you vengeance against.”

¹¹ tn Heb “are upon you.”

¹² tn The Hebrew adds, “from his sleep.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

¹³ tn Heb “and said.”

¹⁴ tn Heb “I will go out as before.”

¹⁵ tn Heb “I” (collective singular).

¹⁶ tn Heb “approach for battle.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “my brother” (collective singular).

¹⁸ tn Heb “Go up against him” (collective singular).

¹⁹ tn Heb “and all the people.”

²⁰ tn Heb “went up and came [to].”

²¹ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

²² tn Traditionally, “fasted.”

²³ tn Or “peace offerings.”

²⁴ tn Or “run away.”

²⁵ tn Heb “him” (collective singular).

²⁶ tn Heb “Look, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.”