Judges 4:12

4:12 When Sisera heard ¹  that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,

Judges 8:31

8:31 His concubine, ²  who lived in Shechem, also gave him a son, whom he named Abimelech. ³ 

Judges 9:26

9:26 Gaal son of Ebed ⁴  came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. ⁵ 

Judges 9:30

9:30 When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious. ⁶ 

Judges 12:15

12:15 Then Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

Judges 13:24

13:24 Manoah’s wife ⁷  gave birth to a son and named him Samson. ⁸  The child grew and the Lord empowered ⁹  him.

[4:12]  ¹ tn Heb “and they told Sisera.”

[8:31]  ² sn A concubine was a slave woman in ancient Near Eastern societies who was the legal property of her master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with her master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (2 Sam 21:10-14; 1 Kgs 11:3).

[8:31]  ³ sn The name Abimelech means “my father is king.”

[9:26]  ³ sn The name Gaal derives from, or at least sounds like, a Hebrew verb meaning “to abhor, loathe.” His father’s name, Ebed, means “servant.” Perhaps then this could be translated, “loathsome one, son of a servant.” This individual’s very name (which may be the narrator’s nickname for him, not his actual name) seems to hint at his immoral character and lowly social status.

[9:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “trusted in him.” Here the verb probably describes more than a mental attitude. It is likely that the Shechemites made an alliance with Gaal and were now trusting him for protection in return for their loyalty (and probably tribute).

[9:30]  ⁴ tn Heb “his anger burned.”

[13:24]  ⁵ tn Heb “the woman.” For clarity this has been specified in the translation as “Manoah’s wife.”

[13:24]  ⁶ tn The name appears to mean “sun-like” or “solar.”

[13:24]  ⁷ tn Traditionally, “blessed.”