1:31 The men of Asher did not conquer the people living in Acco or Sidon, 1 nor did they conquer Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob. 2
1 map For location see Map1-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.
2 tn Heb “The men of Asher did not conquer the people living in Acco, the people living in Sidon, Ahlab, Acco, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob.”
3 tn Heb “the people, the officers.”
4 tn Heb “Who is the man who will begin fighting.”
5 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).
6 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.
7 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.
8 tn Heb “leader of us and all who live in Gilead.”