Judges 3:3

3:3 These were the nations: ¹  the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath. ² 

Judges 3:19

3:19 But he went back ³  once he reached ⁴  the carved images ⁵  at Gilgal. He said to Eglon, ⁶  “I have a secret message for you, O king.” Eglon ⁷  said, “Be quiet!” ⁸  All his attendants left.

Judges 5:31

5:31 May all your enemies perish like this, O Lord!

But may those who love you shine

like the rising sun at its brightest!” ⁹ 

And the land had rest for forty years.

Judges 10:8

10:8 They ruthlessly oppressed ¹⁰  the Israelites that eighteenth year ¹¹  – that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead.

Judges 11:8

11:8 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That may be true, ¹²  but now we pledge to you our loyalty. ¹³  Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader ¹⁴  of all who live in Gilead.” ¹⁵ 

Judges 16:27

16:27 Now the temple ¹⁶  was filled with men and women, and all the rulers of the Philistines were there. There were three thousand men and women on the roof watching Samson entertain.

¹ tn The words “These were the nations,” though not present in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarity.

² tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.”

³ tn Or “returned” (i.e., to Eglon’s palace).

⁴ tn The words “when he reached” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text simply reads “from.”

⁵ tn Or “idols.”

⁶ tn The words “to Eglon” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Eglon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tn Or “Hush!”

⁵ tn Heb “But may those who love him be like the going forth of the sun in its strength.”

⁷ tn Heb “shattered and crushed.” The repetition of similar sounding synonyms (רָעַץ [ra’ats] and רָצַץ [ratsats]) is for emphasis; רָצַץ appears in the Polel, adding further emphasis to the affirmation.

⁸ tn The phrase שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה (shemoneh ’esreh shanah) could be translated “eighteen years,” but this would be difficult after the reference to “that year.” It is possible that v. 8b is parenthetical, referring to an eighteen year long period of oppression east of the Jordan which culminated in hostilities against all Israel (including Judah, see v. 9) in the eighteenth year. It is simpler to translate the phrase as an ordinal number, though the context does not provide the point of reference. (See Gen 14:4-5 and R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 191-92.) In this case, the following statement specifies which “Israelites” are in view.

⁹ 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).

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ 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.

¹² tn Heb “leader of us and all who live in Gilead.”

¹¹ tn Heb “house.”