Hakim-hakim 5:14

5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, ¹ 

they follow ²  after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.

From Makir leaders came down,

from Zebulun came ³  the ones who march carrying ⁴  an officer’s staff.

Hakim-hakim 6:17

6:17 Gideon ⁵  said to him, “If you really are pleased with me, ⁶  then give me ⁷  a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me.

Hakim-hakim 7:16

7:16 He divided the three hundred men into three units. ⁸  He gave them all trumpets and empty jars with torches inside them. ⁹ 

Hakim-hakim 11:20

11:20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He ¹⁰  assembled his whole army, ¹¹  camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

[5:14]  ¹ tn Heb “From Ephraim their root in Amalek” (the words “they came” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons). Because of the difficulty of the MT, many prefer to follow one of the ancient versions or emend the text. For various proposals see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 252-53. The present translation repoints שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham, traditionally translated “their root”) as a Piel verb form with enclitic mem (ם). The preposition ב (bet) on עֲמָלֵק (’amaleq) introduces the object (see Job 31:12 for an example of the construction). Ephraim’s territory encompassed the hill country of the Amalekites (Judg 12:15).

[5:14]  ² tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ³ tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[5:14]  ⁴ tn Or possibly “who carry.”

[6:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[6:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “If I have found favor in your eyes.”

[6:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “perform for me.”

[7:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “heads.”

[7:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “the jars.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“them”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[7:16]  sn They hid the torches inside the earthenware jars to disguise their approach and to keep the torches from being extinguished by the breeze.

[11:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Sihon.” The proper name (“Sihon”) has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun (“he”) because of English style; a repetition of the proper name here would be redundant in English.

[11:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “all his people” (also in the following verse).