Judges 5:9-11

5:9 My heart went out ¹  to Israel’s leaders,

to the people who answered the call to war.

Praise the Lord!

5:10 You who ride on light-colored female donkeys,

who sit on saddle blankets, ² 

you who walk on the road, pay attention!

5:11 Hear ³  the sound of those who divide the sheep ⁴  among the watering places;

there they tell of ⁵  the Lord’s victorious deeds,

the victorious deeds of his warriors ⁶  in Israel.

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

[5:9]  ¹ tn The words “went out” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[5:10]  ² tn The meaning of the Hebrew word מִדִּין (middin, “saddle blankets”) in this context is uncertain.

[5:11]  ³ tn The word “Hear” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:11]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn Or perhaps “repeat.”

[5:11]  ⁶ tn See the note on the term “warriors” in v. 7.