Judges 5:11

5:11 Hear ¹  the sound of those who divide the sheep ²  among the watering places;

there they tell of ³  the Lord’s victorious deeds,

the victorious deeds of his warriors ⁴  in Israel.

Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates –

Judges 5:14

5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, ⁵ 

they follow ⁶  after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.

From Makir leaders came down,

from Zebulun came ⁷  the ones who march carrying ⁸  an officer’s staff.

[5:11]  ¹ tn The word “Hear” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:11]  ² tn The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain. Some translate “those who distribute the water” (HALOT 344 s.v. חצץ pi). For other options see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 246-47.

[5:11]  ³ tn Or perhaps “repeat.”

[5:11]  ⁴ tn See the note on the term “warriors” in v. 7.

[5:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “From Ephraim their root in Amalek” (the words “they came” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons). Because of the difficulty of the MT, many prefer to follow one of the ancient versions or emend the text. For various proposals see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 252-53. The present translation repoints שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham, traditionally translated “their root”) as a Piel verb form with enclitic mem (ם). The preposition ב (bet) on עֲמָלֵק (’amaleq) introduces the object (see Job 31:12 for an example of the construction). Ephraim’s territory encompassed the hill country of the Amalekites (Judg 12:15).

[5:14]  ⁶ tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ⁷ tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ⁸ tn Or possibly “who carry.”