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 18:6

18:6 The priest said to them, “Go with confidence. ⁵  The Lord will be with you on your mission.” ⁶ 

Judges 18:8

18:8 When the Danites returned to their tribe ⁷  in Zorah and Eshtaol, their kinsmen ⁸  asked them, “How did it go?” ⁹ 

[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).

[18:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “in peace.”

[18:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “In front of the LORD is your way in which you are going.”

[18:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “They came to their brothers.”

[18:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “brothers.”

[18:8]  ¹¹ tn Heb “What you?”