Judges 2:23--3:1

2:23 This is why ¹  the Lord permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately; ²  he did not hand them over to Joshua.

3:1 These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel – he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites. ³ 

Judges 6:18

6:18 Do not leave this place until I come back ⁴  with a gift ⁵  and present it to you.” The Lord said, “I will stay here until you come back.”

Judges 6:20

6:20 God’s messenger said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, ⁶  and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed. ⁷ 

Judges 16:26

16:26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand, “Position me so I can touch the pillars that support the temple. ⁸  Then I can lean on them.”

¹ tn The words “this is why” are interpretive.

² tn Or “quickly.”

³ tn Heb “did not know the wars of Canaan.”

⁵ tn The Hebrew text adds “to you,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁶ tn Heb “and I will bring out my gift.” The precise nuance of the Hebrew word מִנְחָה (minkhah, “gift”) is uncertain in this context. It may refer to a gift offered as a sign of goodwill or submission. In some cases it is used of a gift offered to appease someone whom the offerer has offended. The word can also carry a sacrificial connotation.

⁷ tn Heb “Take the meat…and put [it] on this rock.”

⁸ tn Heb “and he did so.”

⁹ tn Heb “the pillars upon which the house is founded.”