1 sn Seventeen hundred gold shekels would be about 42.7 pounds (19.4 kilograms) of gold.
2 tn Or “pendants.”
3 tn Heb “the ornaments which were on the necks of their camels.”
4 tn Heb “you have brought me very low,” or “you have knocked me to my knees.” The infinitive absolute precedes the verb for emphasis.
5 tn Heb “You are among [or “like”] those who trouble me.”
6 tn Heb “I opened my mouth to the
7 tn Heb “If you really can tell it to me [during] the seven days of the feast and you find [its answer].”
8 tn Heb “changes.”
10 tn Heb “father.” “Father” is here a title of honor that suggests the priest will give advice and protect the interests of the family, primarily by divining God’s will in matters, perhaps through the use of the ephod. (See R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 257; also Gen 45:8, where Joseph, who was a diviner and interpreter of dreams, is called Pharaoh’s “father,” and 2 Kgs 6:21; 13:14, where a prophet is referred to as a “father.” Note also 2 Kgs 8:9, where a king identifies himself as a prophet’s “son.” One of a prophet’s main functions was to communicate divine oracles. Cf. 2 Kgs 8:9ff.; 13:14-19).
11 tn The Hebrew text expands with the phrase: “and the Levite went.” This only makes sense if taken with “to live” in the next verse. Apparently “the Levite went” and “the Levite agreed” are alternative readings which have been juxtaposed in the text.