Discovery BoxJudges 5:14-15 
Context5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, 1
they follow 2 after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.
From Makir leaders came down,
from Zebulun came 3 the ones who march carrying 4 an officer’s staff.
5:15 Issachar’s leaders were with Deborah,
the men of Issachar 5 supported 6 Barak;
into the valley they were sent under Barak’s command. 7
Among the clans of Reuben there was intense 8 heart searching. 9
Judges 8:14
Context8:14 He captured a young man from Succoth 10 and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of Succoth’s officials and city leaders – seventy-seven men in all. 11
Judges 9:2
Context9:2 “Tell 12 all the leaders of Shechem this: ‘Why would you want 13 to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal’s sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.’” 14
Judges 9:7
Context9:7 When Jotham heard the news, 15 he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, 16 “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!
Judges 10:18
Context10:18 The leaders 17 of Gilead said to one another, “Who is willing to lead the charge 18 against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!”
Judges 11:7-9
Context11:7 Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, “But you hated me and made me leave 19 my father’s house. Why do you come to me now, when you are in trouble?” 11:8 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That may be true, 20 but now we pledge to you our loyalty. 21 Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader 22 of all who live in Gilead.” 23 11:9 Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, “All right! 24 If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me, 25 I will be your leader.” 26
Judges 20:2
Context20:2 The leaders 27 of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, which numbered 28 four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers.
Judges 20:5
Context20:5 The leaders of Gibeah attacked me and at night surrounded the house where I was staying. 29 They wanted to kill me; instead they abused my concubine so badly that she died.
1 tn Heb “From Ephraim their root in Amalek” (the words “they came” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons). Because of the difficulty of the MT, many prefer to follow one of the ancient versions or emend the text. For various proposals see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 252-53. The present translation repoints שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham, traditionally translated “their root”) as a Piel verb form with enclitic mem (ם). The preposition ב (bet) on עֲמָלֵק (’amaleq) introduces the object (see Job 31:12 for an example of the construction). Ephraim’s territory encompassed the hill country of the Amalekites (Judg 12:15).
2 tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
3 tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Or possibly “who carry.”
5 tn Heb “Issachar.” The words “the men of” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
6 tn Or “was true to.”
7 tn Heb “at his feet.”
8 tn Heb “great was.”
9 tc The great majority of Hebrew
10 tn Heb “from the men of Succoth.”
11 tn Heb “wrote down for him the officials of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.”
12 tn Heb “Speak into the ears of.”
13 tn Heb “What good is it to you?”
14 tn Heb “your bone and your flesh.”
15 tn Heb “And they reported to Jotham.” The subject of the plural verb is indefinite.
16 tn Heb “He lifted his voice and called and said to them.”
17 tn Heb “the people, the officers.”
18 tn Heb “Who is the man who will begin fighting.”
19 tn Heb “Did you not hate me and make me leave?”
20 tn Heb “therefore”; “even so.” For MT לָכֵן (lakhen, “therefore”) the LXX has an opposite reading, “not so,” which seems to be based on the Hebrew words לֹא כֵן (lo’ khen).
21 tn Heb “we have returned to you.” For another example of שׁוּב אֶל (shuv ’el) in the sense of “give allegiance to,” see 1 Kgs 12:27b.
22 sn Then you will become the leader. The leaders of Gilead now use the word רֹאשׁ (ro’sh, “head, leader”), the same term that appeared in their original, general offer (see 10:18). In their initial offer to Jephthah they had simply invited him to be their קָצִין (qatsin, “commander”; v. 6). When he resists they must offer him a more attractive reward – rulership over the region. See R. G. Boling, Judges (AB), 198.
23 tn Heb “leader of us and all who live in Gilead.”
24 tn “All right” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
25 tn Heb “places them before me.”
26 tn Some translate the final statement as a question, “will I really be your leader?” An affirmative sentence is preferable. Jephthah is repeating the terms of the agreement in an official manner. In v. 10 the leaders legally agree to these terms.
27 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.
28 tn The words “which numbered” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
29 tn Heb “arose against me and surrounded against me the house at night.”
