Judges 5:17

Gilead stayed put ¹  beyond the Jordan River. As for Dan – why did he seek temporary employment in the shipyards? ²  Asher remained ³  on the seacoast, he stayed ⁴  by his harbors. ⁵ 

Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.

"Gilead remained across the Jordan; And why did Dan stay in ships? Asher sat at the seashore, And remained by its landings.

Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And Dan, why did he stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.

Gilead played it safe across the Jordan, and Dan, why did he go off sailing? Asher kept his distance on the seacoast, safe and secure in his harbors.

Gilead was living over Jordan; and Dan was waiting in his ships; Asher kept in his place by the sea’s edge, living by his inlets.

Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he abide with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, settling down by his landings.

Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, And why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets.

Gilead stayed put ¹  beyond the Jordan River. As for Dan – why did he seek temporary employment in the shipyards? ²  Asher remained ³  on the seacoast, he stayed ⁴  by his harbors. ⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “lived” or “settled down.”

sn Apparently the people of Gilead remained on the other side of the river and did not participate in the battle.

² tn Heb “Dan, why did he live as a resident alien, ships.” The verb גּוּר (gur) usually refers to taking up residence outside one’s native land. Perhaps the Danites, rather than rallying to Barak, were content to move to the Mediterranean coast and work in the shipyards. For further discussion, see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 262.

³ tn Heb “lived.”

⁴ tn Heb “lived” or “settled down.”

⁵ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word מִפְרָץ (mifrats) is uncertain, but the parallelism (note “seacoast”) suggests “harbors.”