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 6:6

6:6 Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.

Judges 11:23

11:23 Since ⁵  the Lord God of Israel has driven out ⁶  the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them? ⁷ 

Judges 12:11

12:11 After him Elon the Zebulunite led ⁸  Israel for ten years. ⁹ 

Judges 21:6

21:6 The Israelites regretted what had happened to ¹⁰  their brother Benjamin. They said, “Today we cut off an entire ¹¹  tribe from Israel!

[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).

[11:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “Now.”

[11:23]  ⁶ tn Or “dispossessed.”

[11:23]  ⁷ tn Heb “will you dispossess him [i.e., Israel; or possibly “it,” i.e., the territory]?” There is no interrogative marker in the Hebrew text.

[12:11]  ⁹ tn Traditionally, “judged.”

[12:11]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “…led Israel. He led Israel for ten years.”

[21:6]  ¹³ tn Or “felt sorry for.”

[21:6]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “cut off one.”