Judges 5:7

5:7 Warriors ¹  were scarce, ² 

they were scarce in Israel,

until you ³  arose, Deborah,

until you arose as a motherly protector ⁴  in Israel.

Judges 17:4

17:4 When he gave the silver back to his mother, she ⁵  took two hundred pieces of silver ⁶  to a silversmith, who made them into a carved image and a metal image. She then put them in Micah’s house. ⁷ 

[5:7]  ¹ tn The meaning of the Hebrew noun פְרָזוֹן (fÿrazon) is uncertain. Some understand the meaning as “leaders” or “those living in rural areas.” The singular noun appears to be collective (note the accompanying plural verb). For various options see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 237-38.

[5:7]  ² tn Or “ceased.”

[5:7]  ³ tn The translation assumes that the verb is an archaic second feminine singular form. Though Deborah is named as one of the composers of the song (v. 1), she is also addressed within it (v. 12). Many take the verb as first person singular, “I arose” (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV).

[5:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “mother.” The translation assumes that the image portrays Deborah as a protector of the people. It is possible that the metaphor points to her prophetic role. Just as a male prophet could be called “father,” so Deborah, a prophetess, is called “mother” (B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 239).

[17:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “his mother.” The pronoun (“she”) has been substituted for the noun (“mother”) in the translation because of English style.

[17:4]  ⁶ tn The Hebrew text has “and gave it.” The referent (the pieces of silver) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “and it was in Micah’s house.”