Judges 8:35

8:35 They did not treat ¹  the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) fairly in return for all the good he had done for Israel.

Judges 9:26

9:26 Gaal son of Ebed ²  came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. ³ 

Judges 9:19

9:19 So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family ⁴  today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness! ⁵ 

Judges 9:16

9:16 “Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, ⁶  if you have properly repaid him ⁷  –

Judges 11:8

11:8 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That may be true, ⁸  but now we pledge to you our loyalty. ⁹  Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader ¹⁰  of all who live in Gilead.” ¹¹ 

[8:35]  ¹ tn Heb “did not do loyalty with,” or “did not act faithfully toward.”

[9:26]  ² sn The name Gaal derives from, or at least sounds like, a Hebrew verb meaning “to abhor, loathe.” His father’s name, Ebed, means “servant.” Perhaps then this could be translated, “loathsome one, son of a servant.” This individual’s very name (which may be the narrator’s nickname for him, not his actual name) seems to hint at his immoral character and lowly social status.

[9:26]  ³ tn Heb “trusted in him.” Here the verb probably describes more than a mental attitude. It is likely that the Shechemites made an alliance with Gaal and were now trusting him for protection in return for their loyalty (and probably tribute).

[9:19]  ³ tn Heb “house.”

[9:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “then rejoice in Abimelech, and may he also rejoice in you.”

[9:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “house.”

[9:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “if according to the deeds of his hands you have done to him.”

[11:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “therefore”; “even so.” For MT לָכֵן (lakhen, “therefore”) the LXX has an opposite reading, “not so,” which seems to be based on the Hebrew words לֹא כֵן (lo’ khen).

[11:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “we have returned to you.” For another example of שׁוּב אֶל (shuv ’el) in the sense of “give allegiance to,” see 1 Kgs 12:27b.

[11:8]  ⁷ sn Then you will become the leader. The leaders of Gilead now use the word רֹאשׁ (ro’sh, “head, leader”), the same term that appeared in their original, general offer (see 10:18). In their initial offer to Jephthah they had simply invited him to be their קָצִין (qatsin, “commander”; v. 6). When he resists they must offer him a more attractive reward – rulership over the region. See R. G. Boling, Judges (AB), 198.

[11:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “leader of us and all who live in Gilead.”