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@ -527,211 +527,212 @@ front:intro v8pn 0 # Introduction to Judges\n\n## Part 1: General Introductio
6:21 j259 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go וַ⁠תַּ֨עַל הָ⁠אֵ֜שׁ 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “went” instead of **came**. Alternate translation: “and fire went up”
6:21 j260 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy מֵ⁠עֵינָֽי⁠ו 1 The author is using the term **eyes** by association to mean sight. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “out of his sight”
6:22 x6iw rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וַ⁠יַּ֣רְא גִּדְע֔וֹן 1 The author is using the term **saw** by association to mean “recognized.” Alternate translation: “And Gideon recognized”
6:22 j261 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result Alas, my Lord Yahweh, for upon that I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face! 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Since I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face, I am afraid that you, Lord Yahweh, are going to punish me”
6:22 l2pp rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations Alas, my Lord Yahweh 1 Gideon is using a word that expresses a strong feeling, fear. The ULT translates this word as **Alas**. There may be an equivalent word or expression in your language that you can use in your translation to convey this strong feeling. If not, you could specify that Gideon said this because he was feeling fear. Alternate translation: “Oh, no, my Lord Yahweh” or “I am afraid, my Lord Yahweh”
6:22 c1kt rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom face to face 1 This is a common expression that describes seeing someone in person. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. (For example, some languages may say something like “nose to nose.”) You could also state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation, as in the UST: “in person”
6:23 b3ha rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit But Yahweh said to him 1 Since the angel of Yahweh had disappeared from Gideon’s sight, the author seems to mean implicitly that Yahweh spoke to Gideon from heaven. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “But Yahweh spoke to him from heaven and said”
6:23 j262 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns Peace to you 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **Peace**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “Everything is peaceful between you and me”
6:24 s81y rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy To this day 1 The author is using the term **day** to refer to a specific time, the time when he was writing the book of Judges. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “At this time”
6:24 j263 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns Yahweh {is} Peace 1 Even if your language would not ordinarily use an abstract noun for the idea of **Peace**, you may be able to use that word in the name of this altar. If not, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “Yahweh Makes Us Peaceful”
6:25 j264 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent And it happened 1 The author is using this phrase to introduce a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
6:25 j265 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom the bullock of an ox 1 This is a common expression that describes a young ox. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the comparable expression “a kid of goats” in [6:19](../06/19.md). Alternate translation: “the young ox”
6:25 j266 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal and the second bullock, seven years {old} 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you can use a cardinal number here or an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “and his other bullock, the one that is seven years old”
6:26 tj4p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit on the head of this stronghold 1 Yahweh assumes that Gideon will understand that by **the head of this stronghold**, he is referring to the top of a rocky cliff in the town of Ophrah. The people of the town could go there for safety from the Midianites, and since it was a high place, it was also where Gideon’s father had built an altar. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “on the high place near this town”
6:26 gvr9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit in the arrangement 1 This phrase probably refers to Yahweh’s command to the Israelites in [Exodus 20:25](../20/25.md) to use only natural stones if they built a stone altar to him. That is, they were not to use any stones that had been cut or shaped with tools. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “in the proper arrangement” or “using only natural stones, as I have commanded”
6:26 j267 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction Then you shall take the second bull and you shall offer an offering 1 As the previous verse describes, this **second bull** was seven years old, and as [6:1](../06/01.md) describes, God had punished the Israelites for their unfaithfulness and disobedience by allowing the Midianites to oppress them for seven years. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action. Alternate translation: “Then you shall take the seven-year-old bull and you shall offer an offering for the sins of the Israelites”
6:26 j268 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy on the wood of the Asherah 1 Yahweh is using the term **wood** by association to mean a fire that Gideon would build using this wood as fuel. Alternate translation: “on a fire that you shall build from the wood of the Asherah”
6:27 j269 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy the house of his father 1 The author is using the term **house** by association to mean a group of people who were living together, not necessarily all in the same building. Gideon’s **father** was the head of this household, which probably included family members in several generations and servants. Alternate translation: “the people in his extended family”
6:27 j270 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations and the men of the city 1 Here the masculine term **men** has a generic sense that includes both men and women. While the males in the city were the most likely to attack Gideon for tearing down the altar of Baal, he probably feared any person—man or woman, adult or child—who would recognize him and identify him as the person who had done that. Alternate translation: “and the people of the city”
6:28 j271 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom And the men of the city arose early in the morning, and behold 1 The author is not saying that the **men of the city** got up earlier than usual because of what Gideon had done. The expression **arose early** can refer, in context such as this one, to the first thing that happens at the start of a day . If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “As soon as the men of the city got up in the morning, they noticed that”
6:28 i5zb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive and behold, the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah that {was} beside it was cut down, and the second bullock had been offered on the built altar 1 If your language does not use these passive forms, you could express these ideas with active forms or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “and they saw that someone had torn down the altar of Baal, cut down the Asherah that was beside it, and built an altar and offered the second bullock on it ”
6:29 j272 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom And they said, a man to his fellow 1 This is a common expression that means that the people of the city were asking each other the question that follows. No particular relationship is in view between a **man** and his **fellow** man. The expression just means that one person asked another. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Each person was asking other people”
6:29 j273 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet And they searched and sought, and they said, 1 The terms **searched** and **sought** mean similar things. The author is using the two terms together for emphasis, probably to mean that it took some time to find out who was responsible. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “They had to search for some time, but finally they discovered”
6:30 j274 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result Bring out your son, that he may die, because he tore down the altar of Baal and because he cut down the Asherah that {was} beside it 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Because your son tore down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah that was beside it, he deserves to die, so bring him out to us”
6:30 r7h5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit that he may die 1 The men of the city mean implicitly that they want Joash to surrender Gideon to them so that they can execute him as a punishment. They do not mean that Gideon would die as a result of Joash bringing him out. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “so that we can execute him”
6:31 j275 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom who stood against him 1 This is a common expression that describes these people oppposing Joash in an argument. The emphasis is not on their body position, although they likely were standing around his house. The idea is that they wanted Joash to bring Gideon out to them, but he refused, so they were in opposition **against** each other. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who were arguing with him”
6:31 jw4v rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? 1 Joash is using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate these questions as statements or as exclamations. Alternate translation: “You should not have to contend for Baal! You should not have to help him!”
6:31 j276 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit Whoever contends for him, may he die 1 Joash is saying implicitly that anyone who thinks he needs to act to defend Baal’s honor is suggesting that Baal is not powerful enough to defend his own honor, and that is being just as disrespectful to Baal as the person who tore down his altar. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Whoever contends for him is being just as disrespectful, and he is the one who deserves to die”
6:31 j277 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis still morning 1 Joash is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “while it is still morning”
6:32 j4wi rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Jerubbaal 1 The word **Jerubbaal** is another name by which Gideon became known. It means “may Baal contend.”
6:32 q44c rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks saying, “May Baal contend against him, since he tore down his altar.” 1 It is unclear how many of the words that follow **saying** were spoken by the people who gave Gideon the name **Jerubbaal** and how many are an explanation by the author of why the people gave him this name. The people could have spoken: (1) all of the words that are within quotation marks in the ULT. This would be a repetition of what Joash said at the end of the previous verse. (2) only the first phrase that is within quotation marks in the ULT. This would explain the meaning of the name Jerubbaal. The rest would be an explanation by the author. Alternate translation: “saying, ‘May Baal contend against him,’ since he tore down his altar”
6:33 ual5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent Now all of Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east assembled themselves together 1 The author is introducing a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
6:33 eu5d rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit and they crossed over 1 The author assumes that readers will understand that he means that these enemy forces **crossed over** the Jordan River into Israel. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “text”
6:34 d9eb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor Then the Spirit of Yahweh clothed himself with Gideon 1 The author is speaking as if the **Spirit of Yahweh** literally **clothed himself** with Gideon, that is, put on Gideon as if he had been a garment. He means that the Spirit of Yahweh gave Gideon strength and guidance, as if Gideon had the Spirit right inside himself doing that. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You could also state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Then the Spirit of Yahweh filled Gideon” or “Then the Spirit of Yahweh made Gideon strong and confident”
6:35 sy9t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification him 1 The author is using the pronoun **him** to speak of the tribe of **Manasseh** as if it were an individual person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the soldiers from that tribe”
6:35 j278 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go and they went up to meet them 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “came” instead of **went**. Alternate translation: “and they came up to meet them”
6:35 qb25 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns and they went up to meet them 1 The pronoun **they** refers to the soldiers from the tribes of **Asher**, **Zebulun**, and **Naphtali** who responded to the summons from Gideon. The pronoun **them** could refer to: (1) Gideon and the soldiers from Manasseh whom he was commanding. This would suit the sense of the verb **went up**. As [7:9](../07/09.md) indicates, Gideon was staying on some high ground above the battlefield. Alternate translation: “and soldiers from those tribes went up to meet Gideon and the soldiers from Manasseh whom he was commanding” (2) the enemy armies. Alternate translation: “and soldiers from those tribes joined in the fight against the Midianites and their allies”
6:36 j279 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche If you are saving Israel by my hand 1 Gideon is using one part of himself, his **hand**, to represent all of himself in the act of **saving Israel**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “If you are indeed using me to save Israel”
6:37 uf1b rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown a fleece of wool 1 A **fleece of wool** is a large piece of skin from a sheep that still has the wool (the thick, warm hair of the sheep) attached. In this culture, a fleece could be used as a blanket or to make a garment. If your readers would not be familiar with what a fleece is, in your translation you could use the name of a similar thing that your readers would recognize, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “a sheepskin” or “an animal skin with the hair still on it”
6:37 s8ri rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns but on all of the ground {is} dryness 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **dryness**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “but all around it the ground stays dry”
6:38 j280 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom he arose early on the next day 1 While the expression **arose early** can refer to the first thing a person does at the start of a day, in this context it seems to have a more literal meaning. The author seems to be saying that Gideon got up as soon as it was light enough for him to see clearly whether the fleece was wet. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Gideon got up as soon as it was light”
6:38 ub6l rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit and wrung dew from the fleece, the fulness of a bowl {of} water 1 The author is leaving some information implicit that he assumes readers will understand. While the fleece was soaked with dew, the ground all around it remained dry. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. The UST models one way to do this.
6:39 j281 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit only this time. May I please test only this time 1 Since Gideon has already done a test with the fleece once, by **only this time** he means, in both instances, “just one more time.” You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “just one more time … just one more time”
6:39 j282 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns may dryness be on the fleece alone 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **dryness**, you could express the same idea in another way. See how you translated the similar expression in [6:37](../06/37.md). Alternate translation: “may only the fleece be dry”
6:40 j283 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns For dryness was on the fleece alone 1 See how you translated the similar expression in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “For only the fleece was dry”
6:22 j261 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣⁠י יְהוִ֔ה כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֨יתִי֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Since I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face, I am afraid that you, Lord Yahweh, are going to punish me”
6:22 l2pp rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣⁠י יְהוִ֔ה 1 Gideon is using a word that expresses a strong feeling, fear. The ULT translates this word as **Alas**. There may be an equivalent word or expression in your language that you can use in your translation to convey this strong feeling. If not, you could specify that Gideon said this because he was feeling fear. Alternate translation: “Oh, no, my Lord Yahweh” or “I am afraid, my Lord Yahweh”
6:22 c1kt rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים 1 This is a common expression that describes seeing someone in person. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. (For example, some languages may say something such as “nose to nose.”) You could also state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation, as in the UST: “in person”
6:23 b3ha rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר ל֧⁠וֹ יְהוָ֛ה 1 Since the angel of Yahweh had disappeared from Gideon’s sight, the author seems to mean implicitly that Yahweh spoke to Gideon from heaven. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “But Yahweh spoke to him from heaven and said”
6:23 j262 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns שָׁל֥וֹם לְ⁠ךָ֖ 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **Peace**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “Everything is peaceful between you and me”
6:24 s81y rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy עַ֚ד הַ⁠יּ֣וֹם הַ⁠זֶּ֔ה 1 The author is using the term **day** to refer to a specific time, the time when he was writing the book of Judges. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “At this time”
6:24 j263 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns יְהוָ֖ה שָׁל֑וֹם 1 Even if your language would not ordinarily use an abstract noun for the idea of **Peace**, you may be able to use that word in the name of this altar. If not, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “Yahweh Makes Us Peaceful”
6:25 j264 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יְהִי֮ 1 The author is using this phrase to introduce a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
6:25 j265 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom אֶת־פַּר־הַ⁠שּׁוֹר֙ 1 This is a common expression that describes a young ox. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the comparable expression “a kid of goats” in [6:19](../06/19.md). Alternate translation: “the young ox”
6:25 j266 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal וּ⁠פַ֥ר הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֖י שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you can use a cardinal number here or an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “and his other bullock, the one that is seven years old”
6:26 tj4p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit עַ֣ל רֹ֧אשׁ הַ⁠מָּע֛וֹז הַ⁠זֶּ֖ה 1 Yahweh assumes that Gideon will understand that by **the head of this stronghold**, he is referring to the top of a rocky cliff in the town of Ophrah. The people of the town could go there for safety from the Midianites, and since it was a high place, it was also where Gideon’s father had built an altar. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “on the high place near this town”
6:26 gvr9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit בַּ⁠מַּֽעֲרָכָ֑ה 1 This phrase probably refers to Yahweh’s command to the Israelites in [Exodus 20:25](../20/25.md) to use only natural stones if they built a stone altar to him. That is, they were not to use any stones that had been cut or shaped with tools. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “in the proper arrangement” or “using only natural stones, as I have commanded”
6:26 j267 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וְ⁠לָֽקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַ⁠פָּ֣ר הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֔י וְ⁠הַעֲלִ֣יתָ עוֹלָ֔ה 1 As the previous verse describes, this **second bull** was seven years old, and as [6:1](../06/01.md) describes, God had punished the Israelites for their unfaithfulness and disobedience by allowing the Midianites to oppress them for seven years. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action. Alternate translation: “Then you shall take the seven-year-old bull and you shall offer an offering for the sins of the Israelites”
6:26 j268 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy בַּ⁠עֲצֵ֥י הָ⁠אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה 1 Yahweh is using the term **wood** by association to mean a fire that Gideon would build using this wood as fuel. Alternate translation: “on a fire that you shall build from the wood of the Asherah”
6:27 j269 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy אֶת־בֵּ֨ית אָבִ֜י⁠ו 1 The author is using the term **house** by association to mean a group of people who were living together, not necessarily all in the same building. Gideon’s **father** was the head of this household, which probably included family members in several generations and servants. Alternate translation: “the people in his extended family”
6:27 j270 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations וְ⁠אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָ⁠עִ֛יר 1 Here the masculine term **men** has a generic sense that includes both men and women. While the males in the city were the most likely to attack Gideon for tearing down the altar of Baal, he probably feared any person—man or woman, adult or child—who would recognize him and identify him as the person who had done that. Alternate translation: “and the people of the city”
6:28 j271 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַ⁠יַּשְׁכִּ֜ימוּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָ⁠עִיר֙ בַּ⁠בֹּ֔קֶר וְ⁠הִנֵּ֤ה 1 The author is not saying that the **men of the city** got up earlier than usual because of what Gideon had done. The expression **arose early** can refer, in context such as this one, to the first thing that happens at the start of a day . If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “As soon as the men of the city got up in the morning, they noticed that”
6:28 i5zb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive וְ⁠הִנֵּ֤ה נֻתַּץ֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הַ⁠בַּ֔עַל וְ⁠הָ⁠אֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֖י⁠ו כֹּרָ֑תָה וְ⁠אֵת֙ הַ⁠פָּ֣ר הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֔י הֹֽעֲלָ֔ה עַל־הַ⁠מִּזְבֵּ֖חַ הַ⁠בָּנֽוּי 1 If your language does not use these passive forms, you could express these ideas with active forms or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “and they saw that someone had torn down the altar of Baal, cut down the Asherah that was beside it, and built an altar and offered the second bullock on it ”
6:29 j272 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַ⁠יֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֔⁠הוּ 1 This is a common expression that means that the people of the city were asking each other the question that follows. No particular relationship is in view between a **man** and his **fellow** man. The expression just means that one person asked another. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Each person was asking other people”
6:29 j273 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet וַֽ⁠יִּדְרְשׁוּ֙ וַ⁠יְבַקְשׁ֔וּ וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ 1 The terms **searched** and **sought** mean similar things. The author is using the two terms together for emphasis, probably to mean that it took some time to find out who was responsible. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “They had to search for some time, but finally they discovered”
6:30 j274 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result הוֹצֵ֥א אֶת־בִּנְ⁠ךָ֖ וְ⁠יָמֹ֑ת כִּ֤י נָתַץ֙ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֣ח הַ⁠בַּ֔עַל וְ⁠כִ֥י כָרַ֖ת הָ⁠אֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָלָֽי⁠ו 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Because your son tore down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah that was beside it, he deserves to die, so bring him out to us”
6:30 r7h5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠יָמֹ֑ת 1 The men of the city mean implicitly that they want Joash to surrender Gideon to them so that they can execute him as a punishment. They do not mean that Gideon would die as a result of Joash bringing him out. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “so that we can execute him”
6:31 j275 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom אֲשֶׁר־עָמְד֨וּ עָלָ֜י⁠ו 1 This is a common expression that describes these people oppposing Joash in an argument. The emphasis is not on their body position, although they likely were standing around his house. The idea is that they wanted Joash to bring Gideon out to them, but he refused, so they were in opposition **against** each other. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who were arguing with him”
6:31 jw4v rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion הַ⁠אַתֶּ֣ם ׀ תְּרִיב֣וּ⁠ן לַ⁠בַּ֗עַל אִם־אַתֶּם֙ תּוֹשִׁיע֣וּ⁠ן אוֹת֔⁠וֹ 1 Joash is using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate these questions as statements or as exclamations. Alternate translation: “You should not have to contend for Baal! You should not have to help him!”
6:31 j276 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥יב ל֛⁠וֹ יוּמַ֖ת 1 Joash is saying implicitly that anyone who thinks he needs to act to defend Baal’s honor is suggesting that Baal is not powerful enough to defend his own honor, and that is being just as disrespectful to Baal as the person who tore down his altar. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Whoever contends for him is being just as disrespectful, and he is the one who deserves to die”
6:31 j277 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis עַד־הַ⁠בֹּ֑קֶר 1 Joash is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “while it is still morning”
6:32 j4wi rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names יְרֻבַּ֣עַל 1 The word **Jerubbaal** is another name by which Gideon became known. It means “may Baal contend.”
6:32 q44c rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks לֵ⁠אמֹ֑ר יָ֤רֶב בּ⁠וֹ֙ הַ⁠בַּ֔עַל כִּ֥י נָתַ֖ץ אֶֽת־מִזְבְּחֽ⁠וֹ 1 It is unclear how many of the words that follow **saying** were spoken by the people who gave Gideon the name **Jerubbaal** and how many are an explanation by the author of why the people gave him this name. The people could have spoken: (1) all of the words that are within quotation marks in the ULT. This would be a repetition of what Joash said at the end of the previous verse. (2) only the first phrase that is within quotation marks in the ULT. This would explain the meaning of the name Jerubbaal. The rest would be an explanation by the author. Alternate translation: “saying, ‘May Baal contend against him,’ since he tore down his altar”
6:33 ual5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וְ⁠כָל־מִדְיָ֧ן וַ⁠עֲמָלֵ֛ק וּ⁠בְנֵי־קֶ֖דֶם נֶאֶסְפ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו 1 The author is introducing a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
6:33 eu5d rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּעַבְר֥וּ 1 The author assumes that readers will understand that he means that these enemy forces **crossed over** the Jordan River into Israel. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “text”
6:34 d9eb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְ⁠ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה לָבְשָׁ֖ה אֶת־גִּדְע֑וֹן 1 The author is speaking as if the **Spirit of Yahweh** literally **wore** Gideon as if he had been a garment. He means that the Spirit of Yahweh gave Gideon strength and guidance, as if Gideon had the Spirit right inside himself doing that. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You could also state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Then the Spirit of Yahweh filled Gideon” or “Then the Spirit of Yahweh made Gideon strong and confident”
6:35 sy9t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification ה֖וּא 1 The author is using the pronoun **him** in the first instance to speak of the tribe of **Manasseh** as if it were an individual person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the soldiers from that tribe”
6:35 j278 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go וַֽ⁠יַּעֲל֖וּ לִ⁠קְרָאתָֽ⁠ם 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “came” instead of **went**. Alternate translation: “and they came up to meet them”
6:35 qb25 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns וַֽ⁠יַּעֲל֖וּ לִ⁠קְרָאתָֽ⁠ם 1 The pronoun **they** refers to the soldiers from the tribes of **Asher**, **Zebulun**, and **Naphtali** who responded to the summons from Gideon. The pronoun **them** could refer to: (1) Gideon and the soldiers from Manasseh whom he was commanding. This would suit the sense of the verb **went up**. As [7:9](../07/09.md) indicates, Gideon was staying on some high ground above the battlefield. Alternate translation: “and soldiers from those tribes went up to meet Gideon and the soldiers from Manasseh whom he was commanding” (2) the enemy armies. Alternate translation: “and soldiers from those tribes joined in the fight against the Midianites and their allies”
6:36 j279 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche אִם־יֶשְׁ⁠ךָ֞ מוֹשִׁ֧יעַ בְּ⁠יָדִ֛⁠י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל 1 Gideon is using one part of himself, his **hand**, to represent all of himself in the act of **saving Israel**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “If you are indeed using me to save Israel”
6:37 uf1b rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown אֶת־גִּזַּ֥ת הַ⁠צֶּ֖מֶר 1 A **fleece of wool** is a large piece of skin from a sheep that still has the wool (the thick, warm hair of the sheep) attached. In this culture, a fleece could be used as a blanket or to make a garment. If your readers would not be familiar with what a fleece is, in your translation you could use the name of a similar thing that your readers would recognize, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “a sheepskin” or “an animal skin with the hair still on it”
6:37 s8ri rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠עַל־כָּל־הָ⁠אָ֨רֶץ֙ חֹ֔רֶב 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **dryness**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “but all around it the ground stays dry”
6:38 j280 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַ⁠יַּשְׁכֵּם֙ מִֽ⁠מָּחֳרָ֔ת 1 While the expression **arose early** can refer to the first thing a person does at the start of a day, in this context it seems to have a more literal meaning. The author seems to be saying that Gideon got up as soon as it was light enough for him to see clearly whether the fleece was wet. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Gideon got up as soon as it was light”
6:38 ub6l rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּ֤מֶץ טַל֙ מִן־הַ⁠גִּזָּ֔ה מְל֥וֹא הַ⁠סֵּ֖פֶל מָֽיִם 1 The author is leaving some information implicit that he assumes readers will understand. While the fleece was soaked with dew, the ground all around it remained dry. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. The UST models one way to do this.
6:39 j281 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠אֲדַבְּרָ֖ה אַ֣ךְ הַ⁠פָּ֑עַם אֲנַסֶּ֤ה נָּא־רַק־הַ⁠פַּ֨עַם֙ 1 Since Gideon has already done a test with the fleece once, by **only this time** he means, in both instances, “just one more time.” You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “just one more time … just one more time”
6:39 j282 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns יְהִי & חֹ֤רֶב אֶל־הַ⁠גִּזָּה֙ לְ⁠בַדָּ֔⁠הּ 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **dryness**, you could express the same idea in another way. See how you translated the similar expression in [6:37](../06/37.md). Alternate translation: “may only the fleece be dry”
6:40 j283 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns וַ⁠יְהִי־חֹ֤רֶב אֶל־הַ⁠גִּזָּה֙ לְ⁠בַדָּ֔⁠הּ 1 See how you translated the similar expression in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “For only the fleece was dry”
7:intro q545 0 # Judges 7 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nThe account of Gideon continues in this chapter.\n\n## Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter\n\n### God gets all of the credit\n\nGod said, “There are too many soldiers for me to give you victory over the Midianites. Make sure that Israel will not boast against me, saying, ‘Our own power has saved us.’” By lowering the number of fighting soldiers, it emphasizes that the victory is achieved through God’s power. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/glory]])
7:1 q9lu rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Harod & Moreh 1 The word **Harod** is the name of a spring. It means “trembling,” and it probably got this name because, as [7:3](../07/03.md) describes, all the soldiers who were “afraid and trembling” were dismissed from Gideon’s army there. The word **Moreh** is the name of a hill.
7:2 ja78 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy for my giving Midian into their hand 1 Here Yahweh is using the term **hand** in the sense of possession. The image is of someone holding something in his hand. That is, when Yahweh speaks of **giving Midian into** the **hand** of the Israelites, the idea is that the Israelites will conquer the Midianites, who will then become subject to them. Alternate translation: “for me to enable them to conquer the Midianites”
7:2 j284 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns into their hand 1 As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, since a group of people is in view here and in similar instances, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of **hand**. Alternate translation: “into their hands”
7:2 ww36 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy My hand has saved me 1 Here Yahweh is using the term **hand** more in the sense of power. The image is of someone doing something with his hand. That is, if the Israelites claimed that their **hand** had **saved** them, they would be saying that they had saved themselves by their own power. Alternate translation: “We Israelites have saved ourselves by our own power”
7:3 j285 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever {is} afraid and trembling, may he turn back and depart from Mount Gilead.’” 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “proclaim in the ears of the people that anyone who is afraid or trembling may turn back and depart from Mount Gilead”
7:3 ahw6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche in the ears of the people 1 Yahweh is using one part of Gideon’s soldiers, their **ears**, to mean all of them in the act of hearing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “loudly so that the people can hear”
7:3 gt6x rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet afraid and trembling 1 The terms **afraid** and **trembling** mean similar things. Yahweh wants Gideon to use the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “trembling with fear” or “very afraid”
7:3 iup9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names from Mount Gilead 1 See the discussion in the General Notes to this chapter for a suggestion of how to translate this name in this context.
7:3 wn6f rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive were left 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “remained”
7:4 j286 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns and I will refine it for you there 1 The pronoun **it** refers back to **the people** earlier in the verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “and I will refine the people for you”
7:4 t9yd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and I will refine it for you 1 Yahweh is speaking as if he were literally going to **refine** Gideon’s troops, as if they were a precious metal such as silver or gold and he was going to melt them with heat to remove their impurities. He means that he is going to enable Gideon to identify the best soldiers and keep only them in his army. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and I will enable you to identify the best soldiers”
7:4 j287 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes And it will be, {of} whom I say to you, ‘This {one} shall go with you,’ he shall go with you, but all {of} whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “And when I tell you that a certain kind of soldier is to go with you, then you must bring that kind of soldier with you, but you must not bring any other kind of soldier with you that I say is not to go with you”
7:5 iem1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go So he brought 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “took” instead of **brought**. Alternate translation: “So he took”
7:5 w69s rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis and anyone who kneels upon his knees to drink 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “and you shall put in a different group anyone who kneels upon his knees to drink”
7:5 j288 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicitinfo and anyone who kneels upon his knees 1 It might seem that the expression **kneels upon his knees** contains extra information that would be unnatural to express in your language. If so, you can shorten it. Alternate translation: “and anyone who kneels down”
7:6 j289 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns with their hand to their mouth 1 Since the author is referring to a group of people, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural forms of **hand** and **mouth**. Alternate translation: “with their hands to their mouths”
7:6 j290 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns knelt upon their knees 1 See how you translated the similar expression in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “knelt down”
7:7 j291 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events I will save you and I will give Midian into your hand 1 Since Yahweh was going to **give Midian** into Gideon’s **hand** (that is, give Gideon the power to conquer Midian) in order to **save** the Israelites, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they were going to happen. Alternate translation: “I will give Midian into your hand and save you”
7:7 gk97 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-yousingular I will save you 1 The word **you** is plural here. Yahweh is speaking to Gideon as representative of all the Israelites. So use the plural form in your translation if your language marks that distinction. Other languages may have different ways of clarifying the meaning. Alternate translation: “I will save you Israelites”
7:7 j292 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit But all the people may go 1 Yahweh assumes that when he says **all the people**, Gideon will understand that he means “all the other people,” that is, the soldiers who did not lap the water from their hands. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “But all the soldiers who did not lap the water may go”
7:8 j293 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns into their hand 1 See how you translated the same expression in [7:6](../07/06.md). Alternate translation: “into their hands”
7:8 u2nh rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns and their shofars 1 The pronoun **their** refers to the soldiers who were leaving the army. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “and the shofars that the other soldiers had brought”
7:8 j294 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit but every man of Israel 1 The author assumes that readers will understand that by **every man of Israel** he means the soldiers who had not lapped the water from their hands. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “but the soldiers who had not lapped the water from their hands”
7:8 j295 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent Now the camp of Midian was to him from below, in the valley 1 The author is using this sentence to introduce a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
7:9 j296 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom Arise 1 Yahweh is using the expression **Arise** to tell Gideon to take action and lead his army down into the valley to attack the Midianites. Gideon probably was lying in bed when Yahweh spoke to him **that night**, but the meaning of the term **Arise** is not simply that Gideon should get out of bed. See how you translated the same expression in [4:14](../04/14.md). Alternate translation: “Get going”
7:9 u84q rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy Go down into the camp, for I have given it into your hand 1 Yahweh is using the term **camp** by association to mean the Midianite army in its camp. Alternate translation: “Go down and attack the Midianite army where it is encamped, for I have given you the power to defeat it”
7:9 j297 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-pastforfuture I have given it into your hand 1 Yahweh is using the past tense to describe something that is going to happen in the future. He is doing this to show that the event will certainly happen. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use the future tense in your translation and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “I will certainly give it into your hand”
7:10 u4w3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Purah 1 The word **Purah** is the name of a man.
7:11 j99j rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche your hands will be strong 1 Yahweh is using one part of Gideon, his **hands**, to mean all of him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “you will feel courageous”
7:11 j298 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive to the edge of the armed {ones} who {were} in the camp 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The emphasis here may be on the fact that these men were **armed**, that is, they were holding weapons, because they were sentries guarding the camp. Alternate translation: “to the edge of the camp, where the guards were”
7:12 r5ww rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile like the locust in multitude 1 The point of this comparison is that just as a **locust** swarm is very great **in multitude**, that is, extremely numerous, so this combined army had a very great number of soldiers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: “in huge numbers, such as in a swarm of locusts”
7:12 zt6w rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole And to their camels there was not a number 1 The author is making an overstatement for emphasis. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the emphasis in a different way. Alternate translation: “And they had so many camels that one could hardly count them”
7:12 j299 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile like the sand that {is} along the edge of the sea in multitude 1 The point of this comparison is that just as **the grains of sand on the seashore** are very numerous, so this combined army had a very great number of camels. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “There was a huge number of them, as there is a huge number of grains of sand along the edge of the sea”
7:13 j300 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicitinfo I dreamed a dream 1 It might seem that the expression **I dreamed a dream** contains extra information that would be unnatural to express in your language. If so, you can shorten it. Alternate translation: “I had a dream”
7:14 j301 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys answered and said 1 This phrase expresses a single idea by using two words connected with **and**. The word **answered** tells why the neighbor **said** this. Alternate translation: “said in response” or “responded”
7:14 j302 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives This {is} nothing except if {it is} the sword of Gideon 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this as a positive expression. Alternate translation: “This can only be the sword of Gideon”
7:14 j303 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns This {is} nothing except if {it is} the sword of Gideon 1 The pronoun **this** refers to the loaf of barley bread in the dream. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “The loaf of barley bread in your dream can only represent the sword of Gideon”
7:14 yg52 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy the sword of Gideon 1 The neighbor is using the expression **the sword of Gideon** to mean the army of Gideon, by association with the way that his army would use swords as weapons. Alternate translation: “the army of Gideon”
7:14 j304 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit Gideon, the son of Joash, the man of Israel 1 See the discussion in the General Notes to this chapter for an explanation of why the neighbor says that the loaf of barley bread must represent Gideon. Alternate translation: “that poor Israelite farmer, Gideon the son of Joash”
7:15 j305 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit that he bowed down 1 The author means implicitly that Gideon **bowed down** to worship God in thanks for the victory that he realized the Israelites were going to win. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “that he bowed down in worship”
7:15 j306 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche And he returned 1 The author is referring only to Gideon, but he means that both Gideon and Purah **returned** to the Israelite camp. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And he and Purah returned”
7:15 j307 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result Arise, for Yahweh has given the camp of Midian into your hand 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Yahweh has given the camp of Midian into your hand, so arise”
7:15 j308 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom Arise 1 Even though Gideon’s men were probably lying in bed, here the term **Arise** means the same thing that it did in [7:9](../07/09.md). See how you translated it there. Alternate translation: “Let’s get going!”
7:15 j309 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-yousingular The implied “you” in the imperative **Arise** and the pronoun **your** are plural here because Gideon is addressing all of the soldiers in his army, so use plural forms in your translation if your language marks that distinction. 1
7:18 j310 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes And you shall say, ‘For Yahweh and for Gideon!’ 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “And you shall shout that you are fighting for Yahweh and for Gideon”
7:18 j311 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis For Yahweh and for Gideon 1 Gideon is telling his soldiers to shout something that is not a complete sentence. It is a war cry, and so it is not supposed to be lengthy, and it does not have to be grammatically complete. You may wish to retain it as a brief incomplete sentence in your translation. See the translation suggestion for verse 20, where there is a slightly longer version of this war cry.
7:19 j312 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-reduplication Stationing, they had just stationed the guards 1 The author is repeating the verb “station” in order to intensify the idea that it expresses. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “The new guards were just coming on duty”
7:19 j323 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns they had just stationed the guards, and they blew on the shofars 1 The first instance of the pronoun **they** refers to the Midianites, while the second instance refers to Gideon and his men. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “the Midianites had just stationed the guards, and Gideon and his men blew on the shofars”
7:20 zfw1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy A sword for Yahweh and for Gideon 1 The soldiers are using the term **sword** by association to mean “army,” since they are an army that uses swords to fight. Alternate translation: “The army of Yahweh and of Gideon”
7:20 j314 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy the camp 1 The author is using the word **camp** by association to mean the soldiers in the camp. Alternate translation: “the soldiers in the camp”
7:22 j315 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification and Yahweh set the sword of a man against his neighbor 1 The author is speaking of a **sword** as if it were a living thing that Yahweh could have **set** against a person, that is, caused to attack a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. The UST models one way to do this.
7:22 j316 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy the camp. And the camp 1 In both of these instances, the author is using the word **camp** by association to mean the soldiers in the camp. Alternate translation: “the other soldiers in the camp. And the soldiers”
7:22 rv5b rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Beth Shittah & Zererah & Abel Meholah & Tabbath 1 The terms **Beth Shittah**, **Zererah**, **Abel Meholah**, and **Tabbath** are the names of towns.
7:23 u5e9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive Then a man of Israel from Naphtali and from Asher and from all of Manasseh was summoned 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Then Gideon summoned the men of Israel from Naphtali and from Asher and from all of Manasseh”
7:23 j317 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns Then a man of Israel & was summoned 1 The author is using the term **man** in a collective sense. It may be more natural in your language to use the plural form of the word and a plural verb. Alternate translation: “Then the men of Israel … were summoned”
7:24 j318 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go Come down 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “Go” instead of **Come**. Alternate translation: “Go down”
7:24 u7ze rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy the waters unto Beth Barah and the Jordan 1 The messengers are using the word **waters** by association to mean the shallow places where people can cross rivers and streams. Your language may have a term for such places. Alternate translation: “the fords of the streams in the area of Beth Barah and the fords of the Jordan”
7:24 js9y rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Beth Barah 1 The term **Beth Barah** is the name of a town.
7:24 j319 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive So every man of Ephraim was summoned 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “So the messengers summoned all of the men of Ephraim”
7:24 j320 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit So every man of Ephraim was summoned 1 The author means implicitly that the messengers summoned **every man** who was able to fight as a solider. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “So the messengers summoned all the fighting men of Ephraim”
7:25 rvj8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Oreb & Zeeb 1 The words **Oreb** and **Zeeb** are the names of men.
7:25 hn84 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names the rock of Oreb & the winepress of Zeeb 1 The expressions **the rock of Oreb** and **the winepress of Zeeb** are the names of places. Some languages may present these names as titles. Alternate translation: “the Rock of Zeeb … the Winepress of Oreb”
7:25 j321 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns the head of Oreb and Zeeb 1 Since the author is referring to two people, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of **head**. Alternate translation: “the heads of Oreb and Zeeb”
7:25 j322 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit to Gideon, from across the Jordan 1 This could mean: (1) that the soldiers from Ephraim pursued the fleeing Midianite soldiers across the Jordan River, bringing the heads of Oreb and Zeeb with them, and when they met Gideon on the east side of the river, they presented the heads to him. This would mean that [8:4](../08/04.md) is resuming the story after this episode. Alternate translation: “to Gideon after he crossed the Jordan” (2) that the soldiers from Ephraim pursued the fleeing Midianite soldiers across the Jordan River, found and killed Oreb and Zeeb on the east side of the river, and then brought their heads back to Gideon on the west side of the river. This would mean that the phrase **they chased after Midian** is a summary of what happened in the first part of the verse. Alternate translation: “back across the river to Gideon”
7:1 q9lu rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names חֲרֹ֑ד & הַ⁠מּוֹרֶ֖ה 1 The word **Harod** is the name of a spring. It means “trembling,” and it probably got this name because, as [7:3](../07/03.md) describes, all the soldiers who were “afraid and trembling” were dismissed from Gideon’s army there. The word **Moreh** is the name of a hill.
7:2 ja78 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy מִ⁠תִּתִּ֥⁠י אֶת־מִדְיָ֖ן בְּ⁠יָדָ֑⁠ם 1 Here Yahweh is using the term **hand** in the sense of possession. The image is of someone holding something in his hand. That is, when Yahweh speaks of **giving Midian into** the **hand** of the Israelites, the idea is that the Israelites will conquer the Midianites, who will then become subject to them. Alternate translation: “for me to enable them to conquer the Midianites”
7:2 j284 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns בְּ⁠יָדָ֑⁠ם 1 As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, since a group of people is in view here and in similar instances, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of **hand**. Alternate translation: “into their hands”
7:2 ww36 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy יָדִ֖⁠י הוֹשִׁ֥יעָה לִּֽ⁠י 1 Here Yahweh is using the term **hand** more in the sense of power. The image is of someone doing something with his hand. That is, if the Israelites claimed that their **hand** had **saved** them, they would be saying that they had saved themselves by their own power. Alternate translation: “We Israelites have saved ourselves by our own power”
7:3 j285 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes קְרָ֨א & בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֤י הָ⁠עָם֙ לֵ⁠אמֹ֔ר מִֽי־יָרֵ֣א וְ⁠חָרֵ֔ד יָשֹׁ֥ב וְ⁠יִצְפֹּ֖ר מֵ⁠הַ֣ר הַ⁠גִּלְעָ֑ד 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “proclaim in the ears of the people that anyone who is afraid or trembling may turn back and depart from Mount Gilead”
7:3 ahw6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֤י הָ⁠עָם֙ 1 Yahweh is using one part of Gideon’s soldiers, their **ears**, to mean all of them in the act of hearing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “loudly so that the people can hear”
7:3 gt6x rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet יָרֵ֣א וְ⁠חָרֵ֔ד 1 The terms **afraid** and **trembling** mean similar things. Yahweh wants Gideon to use the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “is trembling with fear” or “is very afraid”
7:3 iup9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names מֵ⁠הַ֣ר הַ⁠גִּלְעָ֑ד 1 See the discussion in the General Notes to this chapter for a suggestion of how to translate this name in this context.
7:3 wn6f rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive נִשְׁאָֽרוּ 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “remained”
7:4 j286 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns וְ⁠אֶצְרְפֶ֥⁠נּוּ לְ⁠ךָ֖ שָׁ֑ם 1 The pronoun **it** refers back to **the people** earlier in the verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “and I will refine the people for you”
7:4 t9yd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְ⁠אֶצְרְפֶ֥⁠נּוּ לְ⁠ךָ֖ 1 Yahweh is speaking as if he were literally going to **refine** Gideon’s troops, as if they were a precious metal such as silver or gold and he was going to melt them with heat to remove their impurities. He means that he is going to enable Gideon to identify the best soldiers and keep only them in his army. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and I will enable you to identify the best soldiers”
7:4 j287 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes וְ⁠הָיָ֡ה אֲשֶׁר֩ אֹמַ֨ר אֵלֶ֜י⁠ךָ זֶ֣ה ׀ יֵלֵ֣ךְ אִתָּ֗⁠ךְ ה֚וּא יֵלֵ֣ךְ אִתָּ֔⁠ךְ וְ⁠כֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַ֜ר אֵלֶ֗י⁠ךָ זֶ֚ה לֹא־יֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔⁠ךְ ה֖וּא לֹ֥א יֵלֵֽךְ 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “And when I tell you that a certain kind of soldier is to go with you, then you must bring that kind of soldier with you, but you must not bring any other kind of soldier with you that I say is not to go with you”
7:5 iem1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go וַ⁠יּ֥וֹרֶד אֶת־הָ⁠עָ֖ם 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “took” instead of **brought**. Alternate translation: “So he took the people down”
7:5 w69s rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis וְ⁠כֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יִכְרַ֥ע עַל־בִּרְכָּ֖י⁠ו לִ⁠שְׁתּֽוֹת 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “and you shall put in a different group anyone who kneels upon his knees to drink”
7:5 j288 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicitinfo יִכְרַ֥ע עַל־בִּרְכָּ֖י⁠ו 1 It might seem that the expression **kneels upon his knees** contains extra information that would be unnatural to express in your language. If so, you can shorten it. Alternate translation: “kneels down”
7:6 j289 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns בְּ⁠יָדָ⁠ם֙ אֶל־פִּי⁠הֶ֔ם 1 Since the author is referring to a group of people, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural forms of **hand** and **mouth**. Alternate translation: “with their hands to their mouths”
7:6 j290 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns כָּרְע֥וּ עַל־בִּרְכֵי⁠הֶ֖ם 1 See how you translated the similar expression in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “knelt down”
7:7 j291 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events אוֹשִׁ֣יעַ אֶתְ⁠כֶ֔ם וְ⁠נָתַתִּ֥י אֶת־מִדְיָ֖ן בְּ⁠יָדֶ֑⁠ךָ 1 Since Yahweh was going to **give Midian** into Gideon’s **hand** (that is, give Gideon the power to conquer Midian) in order to **save** the Israelites, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they were going to happen. Alternate translation: “I will give Midian into your hand and save you”
7:7 gk97 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-yousingular אֶתְ⁠כֶ֔ם 1 The word **you** is plural here. Yahweh is speaking to Gideon as representative of all the Israelites. So use the plural form in your translation if your language marks that distinction. Other languages may have different ways of clarifying the meaning. Alternate translation: “you Israelites”
7:7 j292 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠כָל־הָ⁠עָ֔ם יֵלְכ֖וּ 1 Yahweh assumes that when he says **all the people**, Gideon will understand that he means “all the other people,” that is, the soldiers who did not lap the water from their hands. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “But all the soldiers who did not lap the water may go”
7:8 j293 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns בְּ⁠יָדָ֜⁠ם 1 See how you translated the same expression in [7:6](../07/06.md). Alternate translation: “into their hands”
7:8 u2nh rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns וְ⁠אֵ֣ת שׁוֹפְרֹֽתֵי⁠הֶ֗ם 1 The pronoun **their** refers to the soldiers who were leaving the army. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “and the shofars that the other soldiers had brought”
7:8 j294 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠אֵ֨ת כָּל־אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ 1 The author assumes that readers will understand that by **every man of Israel** he means the soldiers who had not lapped the water from their hands. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “but the soldiers who had not lapped the water from their hands”
7:8 j295 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וּ⁠מַחֲנֵ֣ה מִדְיָ֔ן הָ֥יָה ל֖⁠וֹ מִ⁠תַּ֥חַת בָּ⁠עֵֽמֶק 1 The author is using this sentence to introduce a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
7:9 j296 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֖וּם 1 Yahweh is using the expression **Arise** to tell Gideon to take action and lead his army down into the valley to attack the Midianites. Gideon probably was lying in bed when Yahweh spoke to him **that night**, but the meaning of the term **Arise** is not simply that Gideon should get out of bed. See how you translated the same expression in [4:14](../04/14.md). Alternate translation: “Get going”
7:9 u84q rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy רֵ֣ד בַּֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֑ה כִּ֥י נְתַתִּ֖י⁠ו בְּ⁠יָדֶֽ⁠ךָ 1 Yahweh is using the term **camp** by association to mean the Midianite army in its camp. Alternate translation: “Go down and attack the Midianite army where it is encamped, for I have given you the power to defeat it”
7:9 j297 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-pastforfuture נְתַתִּ֖י⁠ו בְּ⁠יָדֶֽ⁠ךָ 1 Yahweh is using the past tense to describe something that is going to happen in the future. He is doing this to show that the event will certainly happen. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use the future tense in your translation and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “I will certainly give it into your hand”
7:10 u4w3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names וּ⁠פֻרָ֥ה 1 The word **Purah** is the name of a man.
7:11 j99j rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה יָדֶ֔י⁠ךָ 1 Yahweh is using one part of Gideon, his **hands**, to mean all of him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “you will feel courageous”
7:11 j298 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive אֶל־קְצֵ֥ה הַ⁠חֲמֻשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶֽה 1 If your language does not use a passive form such as **armed**, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The emphasis here may be on the fact that these men were holding weapons because they were sentries guarding the camp. Alternate translation: “to the edge of the camp, where the sentries were”
7:12 r5ww rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile כָּ⁠אַרְבֶּ֖ה לָ⁠רֹ֑ב 1 The point of this comparison is that just as a **locust** swarm is very great **in multitude**, that is, extremely numerous, so this combined army had a very great number of soldiers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: “in huge numbers, such as in a swarm of locusts”
7:12 zt6w rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole וְ⁠לִ⁠גְמַלֵּי⁠הֶם֙ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֔ר 1 The author is making an overstatement for emphasis. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the emphasis in a different way. Alternate translation: “And they had so many camels that one could hardly count them”
7:12 j299 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile כַּ⁠ח֛וֹל שֶׁ⁠עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַ⁠יָּ֖ם לָ⁠רֹֽב 1 The point of this comparison is that just as **the grains of sand on the seashore** are very numerous, so this combined army had a very great number of camels. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “There was a huge number of them, as there is a huge number of grains of sand along the edge of the sea”
7:13 j300 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicitinfo חֲל֣וֹם חָלַ֗מְתִּי 1 It might seem that the expression **I dreamed a dream** contains extra information that would be unnatural to express in your language. If so, you can shorten it. Alternate translation: “I had a dream”
7:14 j301 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys וַ⁠יַּ֨עַן רֵעֵ֤⁠הוּ וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ 1 This phrase expresses a single idea by using two words connected with **and**. The word **answered** tells why the comrade **said** this. Alternate translation: “And his comrade said in response” or “And his comrade responded”
7:14 j302 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-exceptions אֵ֣ין זֹ֔את בִּלְתִּ֗י אִם־חֶ֛רֶב גִּדְע֥וֹן 1 If, in your language, it would appear that the comrade was making a statement and then contradicting it, you could reword this as a positive statement. Alternate translation: “This can only be the sword of Gideon”
7:14 j303 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns אֵ֣ין זֹ֔את בִּלְתִּ֗י אִם־חֶ֛רֶב גִּדְע֥וֹן 1 The pronoun **this** refers to the loaf of barley bread in the dream. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “The loaf of barley bread in your dream can only represent the sword of Gideon”
7:14 yg52 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy חֶ֛רֶב גִּדְע֥וֹן 1 The comrade is using the expression **the sword of Gideon** to mean the army of Gideon, by association with the way that his army would use swords as weapons. Alternate translation: “the army of Gideon”
7:14 j304 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit גִּדְע֥וֹן בֶּן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל 1 See the discussion in the General Notes to this chapter for an explanation of why the comrade says that the loaf of barley bread must represent Gideon. Alternate translation: “that poor Israelite farmer, Gideon the son of Joash”
7:15 j305 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ 1 The author means implicitly that Gideon **bowed down** to worship God in thanks for the victory that he realized the Israelites were going to win. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “that he bowed down in worship”
7:15 j306 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche וַ⁠יָּ֨שָׁב֙ 1 The author is referring only to Gideon, but he means that both Gideon and Purah **returned** to the Israelite camp. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And he and Purah returned”
7:15 j307 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result ק֔וּמוּ כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה בְּ⁠יֶדְ⁠כֶ֖ם אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֥ה מִדְיָֽן 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Yahweh has given the camp of Midian into your hand, so arise”
7:15 j308 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֔וּמוּ 1 Even though Gideon’s men were probably lying in bed, here the term **Arise** does not mean simply that they should get up. It means the same thing that it did in [7:9](../07/09.md). See how you translated it there. Alternate translation: “Let’s get going!”
7:15 j309 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-yousingular ק֔וּמוּ & בְּ⁠יֶדְ⁠כֶ֖ם 1 The implied “you” in the imperative **Arise** and the pronoun **your** are plural here because Gideon is addressing all of the soldiers in his army, so use plural forms in your translation if your language marks that distinction.
7:18 j310 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes וַ⁠אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם לַ⁠יהוָ֥ה וּ⁠לְ⁠גִדְעֽוֹן 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “And you shall shout that you are fighting for Yahweh and for Gideon”
7:18 j311 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis וַ⁠אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם לַ⁠יהוָ֥ה וּ⁠לְ⁠גִדְעֽוֹן 1 Gideon is telling his soldiers to shout something that is not a complete sentence. It is a war cry, and so it is not supposed to be lengthy, and it does not have to be grammatically complete. You may wish to retain it as a brief incomplete sentence in your translation. See the translation suggestion for verse 20, where there is a slightly longer version of this war cry.
7:19 j312 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-reduplication אַ֛ךְ הָקֵ֥ם הֵקִ֖ימוּ אֶת־הַ⁠שֹּֽׁמְרִ֑ים 1 The author is repeating the verb “station” in order to intensify the idea that it expresses. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “The new guards were just coming on duty”
7:19 j323 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns אַ֛ךְ & הֵקִ֖ימוּ אֶת־הַ⁠שֹּֽׁמְרִ֑ים וַֽ⁠יִּתְקְעוּ֙ בַּ⁠שּׁ֣וֹפָר֔וֹת 1 The first instance of the pronoun **they** refers to the Midianites, while the second instance refers to Gideon and his men. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “the Midianites had just stationed the guards, and Gideon and his men blew on the shofars”
7:20 zfw1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy חֶ֥רֶב לַֽ⁠יהוָ֖ה וּ⁠לְ⁠גִדְעֽוֹן 1 The soldiers are using the term **sword** by association to mean “army,” since they are an army that uses swords to fight. Alternate translation: “The army of Yahweh and of Gideon”
7:21 j314 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֛ה 1 The author is using the word **camp** by association to mean the soldiers in the camp. Alternate translation: “the soldiers in the camp”
7:22 j315 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification וַ⁠יָּ֣שֶׂם יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ת חֶ֥רֶב אִ֛ישׁ בְּ⁠רֵעֵ֖⁠הוּ 1 The author is speaking of a **sword** as if it were a living thing that Yahweh could have **set** against a person, that is, caused to attack a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. The UST models one way to do this.
7:22 j316 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַ⁠יָּ֨נָס הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֜ה 1 In both of these instances, the author is using the word **camp** by association to mean the soldiers in the camp. Alternate translation: “the other soldiers in the camp. And the soldiers fled”
7:22 rv5b rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names בֵּ֤ית הַשִּׁטָּה֙ צְֽרֵרָ֔תָ⁠ה & אָבֵ֥ל מְחוֹלָ֖ה & טַבָּֽת 1 The terms **Beth Shittah**, **Zererah**, **Abel Meholah**, and **Tabbath** are the names of towns.
7:23 u5e9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּצָּעֵ֧ק אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִ⁠נַּפְתָּלִ֥י וּ⁠מִן־אָשֵׁ֖ר וּ⁠מִן־כָּל־מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Then Gideon summoned the men of Israel from Naphtali and from Asher and from all of Manasseh”
7:23 j317 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns וַ⁠יִּצָּעֵ֧ק אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל 1 The author is using the term **man** in a collective sense. It may be more natural in your language to use the plural form of the word and a plural verb. Alternate translation: “Then the men of Israel … were summoned”
7:24 j318 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go רְד֞וּ 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “Go” instead of **Come**. Alternate translation: “Go down”
7:24 u7ze rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy אֶת־הַ⁠מַּ֔יִם עַ֛ד בֵּ֥ית בָּרָ֖ה וְ⁠אֶת־הַ⁠יַּרְדֵּ֑ן 1 The messengers are using the word **waters** by association to mean the shallow places where people can cross rivers and streams. Your language may have a term for such places. Alternate translation: “the fords of the streams in the area of Beth Barah and the fords of the Jordan”
7:24 js9y rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names בֵּ֥ית בָּרָ֖ה 1 The term **Beth Barah** is the name of a town.
7:24 j319 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּצָּעֵ֞ק כָּל־אִ֤ישׁ אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “So the messengers summoned all of the men of Ephraim”
7:24 j320 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּצָּעֵ֞ק כָּל־אִ֤ישׁ אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ 1 The author means implicitly that the messengers summoned **every man** who was able to fight as a solider. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “So the messengers summoned all the fighting men of Ephraim”
7:25 rvj8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names אֶת־עֹרֵ֣ב וְ⁠אֶת־זְאֵ֗ב 1 The words **Oreb** and **Zeeb** are the names of men.
7:25 hn84 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names בְּ⁠צוּר־עוֹרֵב֙ & בְ⁠יֶֽקֶב־זְאֵ֔ב 1 The expressions **the rock of Oreb** and **the winepress of Zeeb** are the names of places. Some languages may present these names as titles. Alternate translation: “at the Rock of Zeeb … at the Winepress of Oreb”
7:25 j321 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns וְ⁠רֹאשׁ־עֹרֵ֣ב וּ⁠זְאֵ֔ב 1 Since the author is referring to two people, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of **head**. Alternate translation: “and … the heads of Oreb and Zeeb”
7:25 j322 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אֶל־גִּדְע֔וֹן מֵ⁠עֵ֖בֶר לַ⁠יַּרְדֵּֽן 1 This could mean: (1) that the soldiers from Ephraim pursued the fleeing Midianite soldiers across the Jordan River, bringing the heads of Oreb and Zeeb with them, and when they met Gideon on the east side of the river, they presented the heads to him. This would mean that [8:4](../08/04.md) is resuming the story after this episode. Alternate translation: “to Gideon after he crossed the Jordan” (2) that the soldiers from Ephraim pursued the fleeing Midianite soldiers across the Jordan River, found and killed Oreb and Zeeb on the east side of the river, and then brought their heads back to Gideon on the west side of the river. This would mean that the phrase **they chased after Midian** is a summary of what happened in the first part of the verse. Alternate translation: “back across the river to Gideon”
8:intro zh95 0 # Judges 8 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nThe account of Gideon concludes in this chapter.\n\n## Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter\n\n### Succoth’s refusal to help Gideon\nThe men of Succoth feared the Midianites more than Gideon. This is why they refused to help Gideon. By allying themselves with the Midianites, they aligned themselves against Yahweh. Because of this, Gideon treated them like he treated the Midianites. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])\n\n### Gideon refuses to be king\n\nGideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, neither will my son rule over you. Yahweh will rule over you.” Although the book of Deuteronomy anticipates a king in Israel, it was sinful for Israel to desire to have a king. He did though take a share of everyone’s plunder as a king would have done through taxes. This may serve as a warning to Israel about their desire to have a king. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
8:1 sea3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion Why have you acted toward us like this? When you went out to fight against the army of Midian, why did you not call us to help you? 1 The soldiers from Ephraim are using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “You should not have acted toward us like this! When you went out to fight against the army of Midian, you should have called us to help you!”
8:1 whc1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns in strength 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **strength**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “vehemently”
8:2 wpi2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion What have I now done like you? {Are} not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 1 Gideon is using the question form in order to make a point without being confrontational. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate these questions as statements or as exclamations, particularly if they would not be regarded as confrontational in your culture. Alternate translation: “What I have done is not like what you have done! The gleanings of Ephraim are better than the vintage of Abiezer!”
8:2 i6yr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor {Are} not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 1 Gideon is speaking as if he had literally harvested a crop of grapes and the soldiers from Ephraim had come along after him and collected the few grapes that he had left on the vines. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. (You could also express this as a comparison, as the UST does.) Alternate translation: “The specific thing that you did at the end of the battle was more important than what I and my soldiers did during the battle”
8:2 i323 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy than the vintage of Abiezer 1 Gideon is using the name of his clan, **Abiezer** by association to mean himself. Alternate translation: “than the grapes I have harvested”
8:3 bi55 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion So what was I able to do like you?” 1 Gideon is using the question form for emphasis and to be persuasive without being confrontational. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for those purposes, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. See how you translated the similar expression in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “So what I have done is not like what you have done!”
8:3 riv2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor Then their spirit abated toward him 1 The author is speaking as if **spirit** of the Ephraimite soldiers literally became smaller or weaker. In this context, the word **spirit** refers to anger. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Then they had less anger toward him”
8:3 j324 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy in him speaking this word 1 The author is using the term **word** to represent what Gideon said by using words. He is not referring to one specific **word** that Gideon spoke that made the Ephraimite soldiers less angry. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “when he said these things to them”
8:4 j325 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent Then Gideon came to the Jordan. Crossing over, he and the 300 men who {were} with him {were} weary, but pursuing 1 Here the author is introducing a new event in the story. It is possible that he is backing up to a point in the narrative just after [7:24](../07/24.md) and that the events of [7:25–8:3](../07/25.md) are related out of sequence. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event and that would allow for this possibility. Alternate translation: “Now when Gideon and the 300 men who were with him reached the Jordan and crossed it, even though they were weary, they continued pursuing”
8:4 j326 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis but pursuing 1 The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “but still pursuing their enemies”
8:5 j327 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche loaves of bread 1 Gideon asks specifically for **loaves of bread** because they would have been easy to carry and to eat while pursuing the Midianites. But he may also be using one kind of food to mean the various kinds of food that would provide a good meal to strengthen a soldier. You may wish to indicate this in your translation. Alternate translation: “some food to strengthen”
8:5 j328 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy to the people who {are} at my feet 1 See how you translated the similar expression in [4:10](../04/10.md). Alternate translation: “to the men who are under my command”
8:5 j329 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Zeba & Zalmunna 1 The words **Zeba** and **Zalmunna** are the names of men.
8:6 l71p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion { Is} the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that {we are} giving bread to your army?” 1 The princes of Succoth are using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “The palm of Zebah and Zalmunna is not now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army!”
8:6 aw3g rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy { Is} the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand 1 The princes of Succoth are referring by association to Gideon and his men having captured Zebah and Zalmunna. While the source and meaning of this expression are not entirely clear, it seems to refer to the way captured prisoners would have their hands tied or chained by a rope or chain that one of their captors would hold in his hand to lead them. Alternate translation: “Have you already captured Zebah and Zalmunna”
8:6 bn4x rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns {Is} the palm 1 Since princes of Succoth are referring to two people, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural or dual form of **palm**. Alternate translation: “Are the palms”
8:8 ikw7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Penuel 1 The word **Penuel** is the name of a town.
8:9 y4qf rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns In my returning in peace 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **peace**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “When I return here peacefully” or “When I return here after winning the war against the Midianites”
8:10 j330 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent Now Zebah and Zalmunna {were} in Karkor 1 The author is introducing a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
8:10 vw38 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Karkor 1 The word **Karkor** is the name of a town.
8:10 j331 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy and their camps & the camp of the sons of the east 1 The author is using the terms **camps** and **camp** to mean “soldiers” and “army,” by association with the way the soldiers in an army stay in camps. Alternate translation: “their soldiers … the army of the sons of the east”
8:10 p2iw rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom and the {ones} having fallen 1 See how you translated the similar expression in [3:25](../03/25.md). Alternate translation: “and the ones who had died”
8:10 mz6t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy men drawing the sword 1 The author is using this phrase to mean soldiers, by association with the way that soldiers at this time drew swords in order to fight battles. Alternate translation: “soldiers”
8:11 j332 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive the {ones} lodged in tents 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the ones who live in tents”
8:11 j333 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom from the east to Nobah and Jogbehah 1 The author does not mean that Gideon traveled **from** the east **to** Nobah and Jogbehah. He is using a characteristic expression to describe the location of one place relative to two other places. He means that from where Gideon was along this road, if one went **to Jobah and Jogbehah**, one would approach those towns **from the east**. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: “to the east of Nobah and Jogbehah”
8:11 jbu9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Nobah & Jogbehah 1 The words **Nobah** and **Jogbehah** are the names of towns.
8:11 j334 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events And he struck the camp, and the camp was {in} security 1 Since the camp was **in security** before Gideon **struck** it, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they happened. Alternate translation: “And the camp was in security, but he struck it”
8:11 j335 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns and the camp was {in} security 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **security**, you could express the same idea in another way. Here, as in [8:10](../08/10.md), the author is using the word **camp** to mean the soldiers in the camp. Alternate translation: “while the soldiers were feeling secure”
8:12 j336 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events Then Zebah and Zalmunna fled & And he made all of the camp tremble 1 Since Gideon first routed the Midianite army and its kings then fled, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they happened. Alternate translation: “Gideon made all of the camp tremble. Then Zebah and Zalmunna fled”
8:12 j337 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy And he made all of the camp tremble 1 The author is speaking by association of how Gideon made the Midianite army **tremble** fear to mean that the army panicked and fled. Alternate translation: “And he threw the entire army into a panic”
8:13 w217 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names through the ascent of Heres 1 The word **Heres** is the name of a road that passes between two mountains.
8:13 a6z2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit and he questioned him 1 The author means implicitly that Gideon **questioned** this young man in order to find out the identities of all of the town leaders of Succoth. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and he questioned him to find out who the town leaders were”
8:14 l2rr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis And he wrote for him the princes of Succoth and its elders 1 The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “And he wrote for him the names of the princes of Succoth and its elders”
8:15 j338 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go Then he went 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “came” instead of **went**. Alternate translation: “Then he came”
8:15 j339 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes you taunted me, saying, ‘Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we {are} giving bread to your weary men? 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “you taunted me, asking whether the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna was already in my hand, that you should give bread to my weary men!”
8:15 bnf8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we {are} giving bread to your weary men? 1 If you retain the quotation within the quotation, see how you translated this question in [8:6](../08/06.md). Alternate translation: “The palm of Zebah and Zalmunna is not now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men!”
8:16 ct8g rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis And he took the elders of the city and thorns of the wilderness and briers 1 The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “And he took the elders of the city, and he also took thorns of the wilderness and briers”
8:16 vr3e rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants and he taught 1 The traditional Hebrew text reads **taught** here. The ULT follows that reading. Some ancient versions seem to reflect a different textual reading and say “thrashed,” as in [8:7](../08/07.md). If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of ULT. However, if the original reading is “taught,” in this context the word would mean “disciplined,” so the two readings mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: “and he disciplined”
8:17 j340 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit Then he tore down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the city 1 See the General Notes to this chapter for a discussion of what the author may be saying implicitly here. Alternate translation: “Then he tore down the tower of Peniel, and that killed the leaders of the city”
8:18 j341 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background Where {are} the men whom you killed at Tabor? 1 Gideon’s question relates to something that the author has not narrated as part of this story. The author has also not related it as background information. So readers must infer what happened. It appears that at some point, probably before Yahweh called Gideon to lead an army against the Midianites, their forces invaded Israel and killed some of Gideon’s brothers. Because these forces were under the command or authority of Zebah and Zalmunna, Gideon is going to hold them accountable for his brothers’ deaths. You can indicate this in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Now some time ago your forces killed some men at Tabor. You need to answer for that.”
8:18 j342 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion Where {are} the men whom you killed at Tabor? 1 This could mean: (1) that Gideon is using the question form to announce that he is going to hold Zebah and Zalmunna accountable for the deaths of his brothers. This question seems to have had that significance in this culture. For example, for the same purpose, God says to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” ([Genesis 4:9](..//gen/04/09.md)). Alternate translation: “I am going to hold you accountable for the men whom you killed at Tabor” (2) that Gideon is asking for information. He wants to verify the identity of the men whom these kings killed. Alternate translation: “What did the men look like whom you killed at Tabor?”
8:18 j343 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit As you {are}, so they {were}. Each {was} like the form of the sons of the king 1 Zebah and Zalmunna could be: (1) saying implicitly that they killed these men because they were of regal bearing and so they perceived them to be a potential threat. As Israelites of strength and influence, they could have led resistance to the Midianites. Alternate translation: “They were of regal bearing, just like you, and we killed them because we perceived them as a threat” (2) answering Gideon’s question by providing information. Alternate translation: “They looked just like you. Each one of them looked like a prince.”
8:18 q1pd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit the sons of the king 1 By the expression **the king**, Zebah and Zalmunna could mean: (1) Gideon himself. They may regard him as the “king” of Israel because he has led the Israelite forces into battle. In that case, by **the sons of the king**, they would be referring to Gideon’s sons, at least one of whom is present, as [8:20](../08/20.md) indicates. Alternate translation: “your sons right there” (2) a person of regal bearing and presence in general. Alternate translation: “the sons of a king”
8:19 j344 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship my brothers, the sons of my mother 1 Gideon is specifying that he had not just the same father but also the same mother as these men. Your language may have its own term or expression for this relationship. Alternate translation: “my full brothers”
8:19 jb1y rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-oathformula {As} Yahweh {is} alive 1 Gideon is using this expression to guarantee that what he is about to say is true. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You can also state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I solemnly swear that”
8:20 j345 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction Then he said to Jether his firstborn, “Arise, kill them!” 1 Gideon having his son Jether, who was still a young man, kill Zeba and Zalmunna was in some way a symbolic action, but interpreters are not entirely sure of what kind. See the General Notes to this chapter for a discussion of the possibilities and for suggestions of how to translate what Gideon told Jether.
8:20 xg9f rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names Jether 1 The word **Jether** is the name of a man.
8:20 j346 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom Arise 1 Gideon is using the expression **Arise** to tell Jether to take action. He is not telling him to get up from a seated position. Alternate translation: “Go ahead”
8:21 j347 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom Arise & arose 1 See how you translated the word “Arise” in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “Go ahead … took action”
8:21 j348 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-proverbs For like a man {is} his strength 1 Zebah and Zalmunna may be expressing their meaning by using a short popular saying of the culture. They probably mean that Gideon should not have expected that a boy would have had the strength or courage to kill them. Your culture may have a comparable saying that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: “It takes a man to do a man’s job”
8:21 j349 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks For like a man {is} his strength 1 You may wish to use punctuation to indicate that Zebah and Zalmunna may be quoting a popular saying of the culture. You could put this sentence within second-level quotation marks, or you could use some other punctuation or convention of your language.
8:21 eu98 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown the ornaments 1 The word translated as **ornaments** describes crescent-shaped decorations made of gold. If your readers would not be familiar with such objects, in your translation you could describe them more fully. The UST models one way to do this.
8:22 j350 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit Then the men of Israel 1 By **the men of Israel**, the author seems implicitly to mean Gideon’s soldiers. What Gideon says to these men in [8:24](../08/24.md) suggests this. Alternate translation: “Then Gideon’s soldiers”
8:22 j351 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship Rule over us, both you and your son and the son of your son 1 Your language may have its own terms for the relationships described here. You could also use a general expression. Alternate translation: “We want you and your son and your grandson to rule over us” or “We want your family to rule over us to the third generation”
8:23 j352 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit and my son will not rule over you 1 By saying **my son will not rule over you**, Gideon implicitly means that his grandson will not rule over the Israelites either. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and my son and grandson will not rule over you”
8:24 j353 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-politeness Let me request a request from you 1 To make his request politely, Gideon is using a construction in which a verb and its object come from the same root. You may be able to use the same construction in your language to express a polite request. Alternatively, your language may have another way of doing that. Alternate translation: “I just have one small thing that I would like to ask of you”
8:24 j354 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun that a man give 1 Gideon is not referring to a specific **man**. He means each man in the army. Alternate translation: “that each one of you give”
8:24 c2b3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background For earrings of gold {were} to them, for they {were} Ishmaelites. 1 Here the author is providing background information to help readers understand what is happening in the story. In your translation, introduce this information in a way that would be natural in your own language and culture.
8:25 j355 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-reduplication The men are repeating the verb **give** in order to intensify the idea that it expresses. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “We will certainly give you what you want!” 1
8:25 j356 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun and a man threw 1 As in the previous verse, this is not referring to a specific **man**. Alternate translation: “and each man threw”
8:26 j357 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy {was} 1,700 gold 1 The author is using the word **gold** by association to mean golden shekels, a unit of weight. Alternate translation: “was 1,700 shekels of gold”
8:26 28qb rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-bweight {was} 1,700 gold 1 These 1,700 **gold** shekels weighed about 20 kilograms or over 40 pounds. In your translation, you could use the ancient measurement and spell the word “shekel” the way it sounds in your language. You could also use the metric measurement given in the UST or another measurement that your language and culture customarily use. Alternatively, you could use the ancient measurement in your translation and put a modern measurement in parentheses in the text or in a footnote.
8:26 w5mz rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown the ornaments 1 The word translated as **ornaments** is the same word as in [8:21](../08/21.md), so it appears that these kings wore crescent-shaped decorations made of gold as their camels did. See how you translated the word there.
8:26 rc47 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown and the pendants & the chains 1 The word translated as **pendants** refers to some other kind of jewelry that these kings wore. Interpreters are not entirely sure what it was, so it may be best to use a general expression for it. The same is true for the word translated as **chains**, which seems to refer to some kind of decoration that went around the necks of the camels, possibly made of gold chains. Alternate translation: “and the jewelry … the necklaces”
8:27 awh9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns Then Gideon made it into an ephod 1 The pronoun **it** refers to the 1,700 shekels of gold described in the previous verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “Then Gideon made the gold into an ephod”
8:27 tyw2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor prostituted themselves after it 1 The author is speaking as if the Israelites had literally acted as prostitutes for this ephod. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the same expression in [2:17](../02/17.md). Alternate translation: Alternate translation: “betrayed Yahweh by worshiping this ephod as if it were a god”
8:27 bbx3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor And it was for a snare to Gideon and to his house 1 The author is speaking as if this ephod had literally been a **snare** in which **Gideon** and **his house** were caught. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the same expression in [2:3](../02/03.md). Alternate translation: “and this led to the ruin of Gideon and his house”
8:27 i29y rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor to Gideon and to his house 1 Here, **house** means all the people descended from a particular person. It does not mean the building in which they lived. Alternate translation: “for Gideon and his descendants”
8:28 j358 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-endofstory So Midian was subdued to the face of the sons of Israel 1 In this verse and the next one, the author is saying what happened at the end of the story of the fight that Gideon led against the Midianites. Your language may have its own way of presenting such information.
8:28 wui8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive So Midian was subdued 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “So Yahweh subdued Midian”
8:28 u2ar rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and they did not continue to lift their head 1 The author is speaking as if the Midianites were literally looking down, as a subservient person would do in this culture. He means that they no longer assumed a position of dominance over the Israelites. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and they no longer oppressed the Israelites”
8:28 j359 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns their head 1 Since the author is referring to a group of people, if you retain this image, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of **head**. Alternate translation: “their heads”
8:28 un4l rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification And the land rested 40 years 1 See how you translated the same expression in [3:11](../03/11.md). Alternate translation: “And there were no more wars for 40 years”
8:28 j360 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy in the days of Gideon 1 See how you translated the word **days** in [2:7](../02/07.md). Alternate translation: “throughout the lifetime of Gideon”
8:29 z3sb rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names And Jerubbaal, the son of Joash 1 As [6:32](../06/32.md) and [7:1](../07/01.md) explain, the word **Jerubbaal** is another name for the man also known as Gideon. The author may be using this name here to recall how Gideon tore down the altar to Baal that his father **Joash** had set up. He may be recalling that action to contrast it with Gideon setting up the golden ephod. So it would be in keeping with the author’s purposes to use the name Jerubbaal here in your translation. But if it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain in the text that this is another name for Gideon. Alternate translation: “And Jerubbaal the son of Joash, that is, Gideon”
8:30 j361 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background Now to Gideon were 70 sons coming from his thigh, for many wives were to him. 1 In this verse and the next one, the author is providing background information to help readers understand what happens next in the story, specifically in Chapter 9, which is about Abimelek. In your translation, introduce this information in a way that would be natural in your own language and culture.
8:30 j362 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result Now to Gideon were 70 sons coming from his thigh, for many wives were to him. 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Now Gideon had many wives, so he had 70 sons coming from his thigh”
8:30 j363 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship sons coming from his thigh 1 The author is using the expression **coming from his thigh** to mean that Gideon was the biological father of all these **sons**. Gideon did not adopt any sons or marry any widows who already had sons by their late husbands. Your language may have its own term or expression that communicates this meaning. Alternate translation: “sons of his own”
8:31 j364 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-participants Abimelek 1 The author is introducing **Abimelek** as a new participant in the story. He will be the main character in Chapter 9. If your language has its own way of introducing new participants, you can use it here in your translation.
8:31 j365 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit Abimelek 1 The author could assume that his original audience would know that the Hebrew name **Abimelek** means “my father is king.” While Gideon had refused to become the actual king of Israel, he may have given this name to his son to suggest that he was, in a sense, a king, since he had been offered the kingship. Unfortunately this seems to have made Abimelek ambitious to become an actual king, with disastrous consequences, as Chapter 9 describes. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate the meaning of this name explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: “Abimelek, which means ‘my father is king’”
8:32 i3jl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom in good old age 1 The author is using a common expression that describes a person being very old. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “when he was very old”
8:32 w8yg rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive and he was buried 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “and his family buried him”
8:33 be44 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent Now it happened 1 The author is using this phrase to introduce a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
8:33 l1r2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor turned 1 The author is speaking as if the Israelites literally **turned** and faced or went in a different direction. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the same expression in [2:19](../02/19.md). Alternate translation: “changed their behavior”
8:33 gh13 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and prostituted themselves after the Baals 1 See how you translated the same expression in [2:17](../02/17.md). Alternate translation: “betrayed Yahweh by worshiping the Baals”
8:33 ce8s rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names And they made for themselves Baal-Berith as a god 1 The expression **Baal-Berith** is the name of a false god. It means “master of the covenant.” This name also appears in [9:4](../09/04.md) and in the form El-Berith (which means “god of the covenant”) in [9:46](../09/46.md).
8:34 j366 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events The sons of Israel did not remember Yahweh, their God, the one having delivered them from the hand of all of their enemies from around 1 Since Yahweh **delivered** the Israelites before they failed to **remember** him, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they happened. The UST models one way to do this.
8:34 j367 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor did not remember 1 The author is speaking as if the Israelites literally **did not remember** who Yahweh was or what he had done for them. He means that they were not grateful to Yahweh and so did not respond the way grateful people would, with loyal devotion. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “did not gratefully worship”
8:35 j368 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns They did not do covenant faithfulness with 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **covenant faithfulness**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “They did not behave loyally toward”
8:35 svf8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor the house of Jerubbaal, Gideon 1 See how you translated the term **house** in [8:27](../08/27.md). Alternate translation: “the descendants of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon”
8:35 j369 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns the good that he did with Israel 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **good**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the good things that he did for Israel”
8:1 sea3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מָֽה־הַ⁠דָּבָ֤ר הַ⁠זֶּה֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔⁠נוּ לְ⁠בִלְתִּי֙ קְרֹ֣אות לָ֔⁠נוּ כִּ֥י הָלַ֖כְתָּ לְ⁠הִלָּחֵ֣ם בְּ⁠מִדְיָ֑ן 1 The soldiers from Ephraim are using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “You should not have acted toward us like this! When you went out to fight against the army of Midian, you should have called us to help you!”
8:1 whc1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns בְּ⁠חָזְקָֽה 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **strength**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “vehemently”
8:2 wpi2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מֶה־עָשִׂ֥יתִי עַתָּ֖ה כָּ⁠כֶ֑ם הֲ⁠ל֗וֹא ט֛וֹב עֹלְל֥וֹת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מִ⁠בְצִ֥יר אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר 1 Gideon is using the question form in order to make a point without being confrontational. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate these questions as statements or as exclamations, particularly if they would not be regarded as confrontational in your culture. Alternate translation: “What I have done is not like what you have done! The gleanings of Ephraim are better than the vintage of Abiezer!”
8:2 i6yr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor הֲ⁠ל֗וֹא ט֛וֹב עֹלְל֥וֹת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מִ⁠בְצִ֥יר אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר 1 Gideon is speaking as if he had literally harvested a crop of grapes and the soldiers from Ephraim had come along after him and collected the few grapes that he had left on the vines. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. (You could also express this as a comparison, as the UST does.) Alternate translation: “The specific thing that you did at the end of the battle was more important than what I and my soldiers did during the battle”
8:2 i323 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy מִ⁠בְצִ֥יר אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר 1 Gideon is using the name of his clan, **Abiezer** by association to mean himself. Alternate translation: “than the grapes I have harvested”
8:3 bi55 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion וּ⁠מַה־יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי עֲשׂ֣וֹת כָּ⁠כֶ֑ם 1 Gideon is using the question form for emphasis and to be persuasive without being confrontational. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for those purposes, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. See how you translated the similar expression in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “So what I have done is not like what you have done!”
8:3 riv2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor אָ֗ז רָפְתָ֤ה רוּחָ⁠ם֙ מֵֽ⁠עָלָ֔י⁠ו 1 The author is speaking as if **spirit** of the Ephraimite soldiers literally became smaller or weaker. In this context, the word **spirit** refers to anger. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Then they had less anger toward him”
8:3 j324 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy בְּ⁠דַבְּר֖⁠וֹ הַ⁠דָּבָ֥ר הַ⁠זֶּֽה 1 The author is using the term **word** to represent what Gideon said by using words. He is not referring to one specific **word** that Gideon spoke that made the Ephraimite soldiers less angry. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “when he said these things to them”
8:4 j325 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יָּבֹ֥א גִדְע֖וֹן הַ⁠יַּרְדֵּ֑נָ⁠ה עֹבֵ֣ר ה֗וּא וּ⁠שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֤וֹת הָ⁠אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔⁠וֹ עֲיֵפִ֖ים וְ⁠רֹדְפִֽים 1 Here the author is introducing a new event in the story. It is possible that he is backing up to a point in the narrative just after [7:24](../07/24.md) and that the events of [7:25–8:3](../07/25.md) are related out of sequence. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event and that would allow for this possibility. Alternate translation: “Now when Gideon and the 300 men who were with him reached the Jordan and crossed it, even though they were weary, they continued pursuing”
8:4 j326 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis וְ⁠רֹדְפִֽים 1 The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “but still pursuing their enemies”
8:5 j327 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche כִּכְּר֣וֹת לֶ֔חֶם לָ⁠עָ֖ם 1 Gideon asks specifically for **loaves of bread** because they would have been easy to carry and to eat while pursuing the Midianites. But he may also be using one kind of food to mean the various kinds of food that would provide a good meal to strengthen a soldier. You may wish to indicate this in your translation. Alternate translation: “some food to strengthen the people”
8:5 j328 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy לָ⁠עָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּ⁠רַגְלָ֑⁠י 1 See how you translated the similar expression in [4:10](../04/10.md). Alternate translation: “to the men who are under my command”
8:5 j329 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names זֶ֥בַח וְ⁠צַלְמֻנָּ֖ע 1 The words **Zeba** and **Zalmunna** are the names of men.
8:6 l71p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion הֲ֠⁠כַף זֶ֧בַח וְ⁠צַלְמֻנָּ֛ע עַתָּ֖ה בְּ⁠יָדֶ֑⁠ךָ כִּֽי־נִתֵּ֥ן לִֽ⁠צְבָאֲ⁠ךָ֖ לָֽחֶם 1 The princes of Succoth are using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “The palm of Zebah and Zalmunna is not now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army!”
8:6 aw3g rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy הֲ֠⁠כַף זֶ֧בַח וְ⁠צַלְמֻנָּ֛ע עַתָּ֖ה בְּ⁠יָדֶ֑⁠ךָ 1 The princes of Succoth are referring by association to Gideon and his men having captured Zebah and Zalmunna. While the source and meaning of this expression are not entirely clear, it seems to refer to the way captured prisoners would have their hands tied or chained by a rope or chain that one of their captors would hold in his hand to lead them. Alternate translation: “Have you already captured Zebah and Zalmunna”
8:6 bn4x rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns הֲ֠⁠כַף 1 Since princes of Succoth are referring to two people, it might be more natural in your language to use the dual or plural form of **palm**. Alternate translation: “Are the palms”
8:8 ikw7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names פְּנוּאֵ֔ל 1 The word **Penuel** is the name of a town.
8:9 y4qf rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns בְּ⁠שׁוּבִ֣⁠י בְ⁠שָׁל֔וֹם 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **peace**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “When I return here peacefully” or “When I return here after winning the war against the Midianites”
8:10 j330 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וְ⁠זֶ֨בַח וְ⁠צַלְמֻנָּ֜ע בַּ⁠קַּרְקֹ֗ר 1 The author is introducing a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
8:10 vw38 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names בַּ⁠קַּרְקֹ֗ר 1 The word **Karkor** is the name of a town.
8:10 j331 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וּ⁠מַחֲנֵי⁠הֶ֤ם & מַחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי־קֶ֑דֶם 1 The author is using the terms **camps** and **camp** to mean “soldiers” and “army,” by association with the way the soldiers in an army stay in camps. Alternate translation: “their soldiers … the army of the sons of the east”
8:10 p2iw rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וְ⁠הַ⁠נֹּ֣פְלִ֔ים 1 See how you translated the similar expression in [3:25](../03/25.md). Alternate translation: “and the ones who had died”
8:10 mz6t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חָֽרֶב 1 The author is using this phrase to mean soldiers, by association with the way that soldiers at this time drew swords in order to fight battles. Alternate translation: “fighting men” or “soldiers”
8:11 j332 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive הַ⁠שְּׁכוּנֵ֣י בָֽ⁠אֳהָלִ֔ים 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the ones who live in tents”
8:11 j333 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom מִ⁠קֶּ֥דֶם לְ⁠נֹ֖בַח וְ⁠יָגְבֳּהָ֑ה 1 The author does not mean that Gideon traveled **from** the east **to** Nobah and Jogbehah. He is using a characteristic expression to describe the location of one place relative to two other places. He means that from where Gideon was along this road, if one went **to Jobah and Jogbehah**, one would approach those towns **from the east**. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: “to the east of Nobah and Jogbehah”
8:11 jbu9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names לְ⁠נֹ֖בַח וְ⁠יָגְבֳּהָ֑ה 1 The words **Nobah** and **Jogbehah** are the names of towns.
8:11 j334 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events וַ⁠יַּךְ֙ אֶת־הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְ⁠הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֖ה הָ֥יָה בֶֽטַח 1 Since the camp was **in security** before Gideon **struck** it, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they happened. Alternate translation: “And the camp was in security, but he struck it”
8:11 j335 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֖ה הָ֥יָה בֶֽטַח 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **security**, you could express the same idea in another way. Here, as in [8:10](../08/10.md), the author is using the word **camp** to mean the soldiers in the camp. Alternate translation: “while the soldiers were feeling secure”
8:12 j337 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וְ⁠כָל־הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֖ה הֶחֱרִֽיד 1 The author is speaking by association of how Gideon made the Midianite army **tremble** fear to mean that the army panicked and fled. Alternate translation: “And he threw the entire army into a panic”
8:12 j336 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events וְ⁠כָל־הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶ֖ה הֶחֱרִֽיד 1 Since Gideon first routed the Midianite army and its kings then fled, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they happened. You could do that by putting this last sentence first in the verse.
8:13 w217 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names מִֽ⁠לְ⁠מַעֲלֵ֖ה הֶ⁠חָֽרֶס 1 The word **Heres** is the name of a road that passes between two mountains. Alternate translation: "through Heres Pass"
8:14 a6z2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּשְׁאָלֵ֑⁠הוּ 1 The author means implicitly that Gideon **questioned** this young man in order to find out the identities of all of the town leaders of Succoth. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and he questioned him to find out who the town leaders were”
8:14 l2rr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis וַ⁠יִּכְתֹּ֨ב אֵלָ֜י⁠ו אֶת־שָׂרֵ֤י סֻכּוֹת֙ וְ⁠אֶת־זְקֵנֶ֔י⁠הָ 1 The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “And he wrote for him the names of the princes of Succoth and its elders”
8:15 j338 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go וַ⁠יָּבֹא֙ 1 In a context such as this, your language might say “came” instead of **went**. Alternate translation: “Then he came”
8:15 j339 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes חֵרַפְתֶּ֨ם אוֹתִ֜⁠י לֵ⁠אמֹ֗ר הֲ֠⁠כַף זֶ֣בַח וְ⁠צַלְמֻנָּ֤ע עַתָּה֙ בְּ⁠יָדֶ֔⁠ךָ כִּ֥י נִתֵּ֛ן לַ⁠אֲנָשֶׁ֥י⁠ךָ הַ⁠יְּעֵפִ֖ים לָֽחֶם 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “you taunted me, asking whether the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna was already in my hand, that you should give bread to my weary men!”
8:15 bnf8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion הֲ֠⁠כַף זֶ֣בַח וְ⁠צַלְמֻנָּ֤ע עַתָּה֙ בְּ⁠יָדֶ֔⁠ךָ כִּ֥י נִתֵּ֛ן לַ⁠אֲנָשֶׁ֥י⁠ךָ הַ⁠יְּעֵפִ֖ים לָֽחֶם 1 If you retain the quotation within the quotation, see how you translated this question in [8:6](../08/06.md). Alternate translation: “The palm of Zebah and Zalmunna is not now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men!”
8:16 ct8g rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis וַ⁠יִּקַּח֙ אֶת־זִקְנֵ֣י הָ⁠עִ֔יר וְ⁠אֶת־קוֹצֵ֥י הַ⁠מִּדְבָּ֖ר וְ⁠אֶת־הַֽ⁠בַּרְקֳנִ֑ים 1 The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “And he took the elders of the city, and he also took thorns of the wilderness and briers”
8:16 vr3e rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-textvariants וַ⁠יֹּ֣דַע 1 The traditional Hebrew text reads **taught** here. The ULT follows that reading. Some ancient versions seem to reflect a different textual reading and say “thrashed,” as in [8:7](../08/07.md). If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of ULT. However, if the original reading is “taught,” in this context the word would mean “disciplined,” so the two readings mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: “and he disciplined”
8:17 j340 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠אֶת־מִגְדַּ֥ל פְּנוּאֵ֖ל נָתָ֑ץ וַֽ⁠יַּהֲרֹ֖ג אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָ⁠עִֽיר 1 See the General Notes to this chapter for a discussion of what the author may be saying implicitly here. Alternate translation: “Then he tore down the tower of Peniel, and that killed the leaders of the city”
8:18 j341 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background אֵיפֹה֙ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲרַגְתֶּ֖ם בְּ⁠תָב֑וֹר 1 Gideon’s question relates to something that the author has not narrated as part of this story. The author has also not related it as background information. So readers must infer what happened. It appears that at some point, probably before Yahweh called Gideon to lead an army against the Midianites, their forces invaded Israel and killed some of Gideon’s brothers. Because these forces were under the command or authority of Zebah and Zalmunna, Gideon is going to hold them accountable for his brothers’ deaths. You can indicate this in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Now some time ago your forces killed some men at Tabor. You need to answer for that.”
8:18 j342 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion אֵיפֹה֙ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲרַגְתֶּ֖ם בְּ⁠תָב֑וֹר 1 This could mean: (1) that Gideon is using the question form to announce that he is going to hold Zebah and Zalmunna accountable for the deaths of his brothers. This question seems to have had that significance in this culture. For example, for the same purpose, God says to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” ([Genesis 4:9](..//gen/04/09.md)). Alternate translation: “I am going to hold you accountable for the men whom you killed at Tabor” (2) that Gideon is asking for information. He wants to verify the identity of the men whom these kings killed. Alternate translation: “What did the men look like whom you killed at Tabor?”
8:18 j343 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit כָּמ֣וֹ⁠ךָ כְמוֹ⁠הֶ֔ם אֶחָ֕ד כְּ⁠תֹ֖אַר בְּנֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 Zebah and Zalmunna could be: (1) saying implicitly that they killed these men because they were of regal bearing and so they perceived them to be a potential threat. As Israelites of strength and influence, they could have led resistance to the Midianites. Alternate translation: “They were of regal bearing, just like you, and we killed them because we perceived them as a threat” (2) answering Gideon’s question by providing information. Alternate translation: “They looked just like you. Each one of them looked like a prince.”
8:18 q1pd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit בְּנֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 By the expression **the king**, Zebah and Zalmunna could mean: (1) Gideon himself. They may regard him as the “king” of Israel because he has led the Israelite forces into battle. In that case, by **the sons of the king**, they would be referring to Gideon’s sons, at least one of whom is present, as [8:20](../08/20.md) indicates. Alternate translation: “your sons right there” (2) a person of regal bearing and presence in general. Alternate translation: “the sons of a king”
8:19 j344 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship אַחַ֥⁠י בְּנֵֽי־אִמִּ֖⁠י הֵ֑ם 1 Gideon is specifying that he had not just the same father but also the same mother as these men. Your language may have its own term or expression for this relationship. Alternate translation: “They were my full brothers”
8:19 jb1y rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-oathformula חַי־יְהוָ֗ה 1 Gideon is using this expression to guarantee that what he is about to say is true. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You can also state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Before Yahweh, I solemnly swear that”
8:20 j345 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לְ⁠יֶ֣תֶר בְּכוֹר֔⁠וֹ ק֖וּם הֲרֹ֣ג אוֹתָ֑⁠ם 1 Gideon having his son Jether, who was still a young man, kill Zeba and Zalmunna was in some way a symbolic action, but interpreters are not entirely sure what it would have meant. See the General Notes to this chapter for a discussion of the possibilities and for suggestions of how to translate what Gideon told Jether.
8:20 xg9f rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names לְ⁠יֶ֣תֶר 1 The word **Jether** is the name of a man.
8:20 j346 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֖וּם 1 Gideon is using the expression **Arise** to tell Jether to take action. He is not telling him to get up from a seated position. Alternate translation: “Go ahead”
8:21 j347 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֤וּם & וַ⁠יָּ֣קָם גִּדְע֗וֹן 1 See how you translated the word “Arise” in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “Go ahead … So Gideon took action”
8:21 j348 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-proverbs כִּ֥י כָ⁠אִ֖ישׁ גְּבוּרָת֑⁠וֹ 1 Zebah and Zalmunna may be expressing their meaning by using a short popular saying of the culture. They probably mean that Gideon should not have expected that a boy would have had the strength or courage to kill them. Your culture may have a comparable saying that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: “It takes a man to do a man’s job”
8:21 j349 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks כִּ֥י כָ⁠אִ֖ישׁ גְּבוּרָת֑⁠וֹ 1 You may wish to use punctuation to indicate that Zebah and Zalmunna may be quoting a popular saying of the culture. You could put this sentence within second-level quotation marks, or you could use some other punctuation or convention of your language.
8:21 eu98 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown אֶת־הַ⁠שַּׂ֣הֲרֹנִ֔ים 1 The word translated as **ornaments** describes crescent-shaped decorations made of gold. If your readers would not be familiar with such objects, in your translation you could describe them more fully. The UST models one way to do this.
8:22 j350 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ 1 By **the men of Israel**, the author seems implicitly to mean Gideon’s soldiers. What Gideon says to these men in [8:24](../08/24.md) suggests this. Alternate translation: “Gideon’s soldiers”
8:22 j351 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship מְשָׁל־בָּ֨⁠נוּ֙ גַּם־אַתָּ֔ה גַּם־בִּנְ⁠ךָ֖ גַּ֣ם בֶּן־בְּנֶ֑⁠ךָ 1 Your language may have its own terms for the relationships described here. You could also use a general expression. Alternate translation: “We want you and your son and your grandson to rule over us” or “We want your family to rule over us to the third generation”
8:23 j352 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠לֹֽא־יִמְשֹׁ֥ל בְּנִ֖⁠י בָּ⁠כֶ֑ם 1 By saying **my son will not rule over you**, Gideon implicitly means that his grandson will not rule over the Israelites either. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and my son and grandson will not rule over you”
8:24 j353 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-politeness אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה מִ⁠כֶּם֙ שְׁאֵלָ֔ה 1 To make his request politely, Gideon is using a construction in which a verb and its object come from the same root. You may be able to use the same construction in your language to express a polite request. Alternatively, your language may have another way of doing that. Alternate translation: “I just have one small thing that I would like to ask of you”
8:24 j354 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun אִ֖ישׁ 1 Gideon is not referring to a specific **man**. He means each man in the army. Alternate translation: “each one of you”
8:24 c2b3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background כִּֽי־נִזְמֵ֤י זָהָב֙ לָ⁠הֶ֔ם כִּ֥י יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים הֵֽם 1 Here the author is providing background information to help readers understand what is happening in the story. In your translation, introduce this information in a way that would be natural in your own language and culture.
8:24 ra0c rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result כִּֽי־נִזְמֵ֤י זָהָב֙ לָ⁠הֶ֔ם כִּ֥י יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים הֵֽם 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “For since they were Ishmaelites, they were wearing golden earrings”
8:25 j355 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-reduplication נָת֣וֹן נִתֵּ֑ן 1 The men are repeating the verb **give** in order to intensify the idea that it expresses. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “We will certainly give you what you want!”
8:25 j356 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun וַ⁠יַּשְׁלִ֣יכוּ & אִ֖ישׁ 1 As in the previous verse, this is not referring to a specific **man**. Alternate translation: “and each man threw”
8:26 j357 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy אֶ֥לֶף וּ⁠שְׁבַע־מֵא֖וֹת זָהָ֑ב 1 The author is using the word **gold** by association to mean golden shekels, a unit of weight. Alternate translation: “was 1,700 shekels of gold”
8:26 28qb rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-bweight אֶ֥לֶף וּ⁠שְׁבַע־מֵא֖וֹת זָהָ֑ב 1 These 1,700 **gold** shekels weighed about 20 kilograms or over 40 pounds. In your translation, you could use the ancient measurement and spell the word “shekel” the way it sounds in your language. You could also use the metric measurement given in the UST or another measurement that your language and culture customarily use. Alternatively, you could use the ancient measurement in your translation and put a modern measurement in parentheses in the text or in a footnote.
8:26 w5mz rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown הַ⁠שַּׂהֲרֹנִ֨ים 1 The word translated as **ornaments** is the same word as in [8:21](../08/21.md), so it appears that these kings wore crescent-shaped decorations made of gold as their camels did. See how you translated the word there.
8:26 rc47 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown וְ⁠הַ⁠נְּטִפ֜וֹת & הָ֣⁠עֲנָק֔וֹת 1 The word translated as **pendants** refers to some other kind of jewelry that these kings wore. Interpreters are not entirely sure what it was, so it may be best to use a general expression for it. The same is true for the word translated as **chains**, which seems to refer to some kind of decoration that went around the necks of the camels, possibly made of gold chains. Alternate translation: “and the jewelry … the necklaces”
8:27 awh9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns וַ⁠יַּעַשׂ֩ אוֹת֨⁠וֹ גִדְע֜וֹן לְ⁠אֵפ֗וֹד 1 The pronoun **it** refers to the 1,700 shekels of gold described in the previous verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “Then Gideon made the gold into an ephod”
8:27 tyw2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַ⁠יִּזְנ֧וּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אַחֲרָ֖י⁠ו 1 The author is speaking as if the Israelites had literally acted as prostitutes for this ephod. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the same expression in [2:17](../02/17.md). Alternate translation: Alternate translation: “and all of Israel betrayed Yahweh by worshiping this ephod as if it were a god”
8:27 bbx3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַ⁠יְהִ֛י לְ⁠גִדְע֥וֹן וּ⁠לְ⁠בֵית֖⁠וֹ לְ⁠מוֹקֵֽשׁ 1 The author is speaking as if this ephod had literally been a **snare** in which **Gideon** and **his house** were caught. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the same expression in [2:3](../02/03.md). Alternate translation: “and this led to the ruin of Gideon and his house”
8:27 i29y rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor לְ⁠גִדְע֥וֹן וּ⁠לְ⁠בֵית֖⁠וֹ 1 Here, **house** means all the people descended from a particular person. It does not mean the building in which they lived. Alternate translation: “for Gideon and his descendants”
8:28 j358 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-endofstory וַ⁠יִּכָּנַ֣ע מִדְיָ֗ן לִ⁠פְנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל 1 In this verse and the next one, the author is saying what happened at the end of the story of the fight that Gideon led against the Midianites. Your language may have its own way of presenting such information.
8:28 wui8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּכָּנַ֣ע מִדְיָ֗ן 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “So Yahweh subdued Midian”
8:28 u2ar rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְ⁠לֹ֥א יָסְפ֖וּ לָ⁠שֵׂ֣את רֹאשָׁ֑⁠ם 1 The author is speaking as if the Midianites were literally looking down, as a subservient person would do in this culture. He means that they no longer assumed a position of dominance over the Israelites. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and they no longer oppressed the Israelites”
8:28 j359 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns רֹאשָׁ֑⁠ם 1 Since the author is referring to a group of people, if you retain this image, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of **head**. Alternate translation: “their heads”
8:28 un4l rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification וַ⁠תִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָ⁠אָ֛רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה 1 See how you translated the same expression in [3:11](../03/11.md). Alternate translation: “And there were no more wars for 40 years”
8:28 j360 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy בִּ⁠ימֵ֥י גִדְעֽוֹן 1 See how you translated the word **days** in [2:7](../02/07.md). Alternate translation: “throughout the lifetime of Gideon”
8:29 z3sb rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names וַ⁠יֵּ֛לֶךְ יְרֻבַּ֥עַל בֶּן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ 1 As [6:32](../06/32.md) and [7:1](../07/01.md) explain, the word **Jerubbaal** is another name for the man also known as Gideon. The author may be using this name here to recall how Gideon tore down the altar to Baal that his father **Joash** had set up. He may be recalling that action to contrast it with Gideon setting up the golden ephod. So it would be in keeping with the author’s purposes to use the name Jerubbaal here in your translation. But if it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain in the text that this is another name for Gideon. Alternate translation: “And Jerubbaal the son of Joash, that is, Gideon”
8:30 j361 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background וּ⁠לְ⁠גִדְע֗וֹן הָיוּ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים בָּנִ֔ים יֹצְאֵ֖י יְרֵכ֑⁠וֹ כִּֽי־נָשִׁ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹת הָ֥יוּ לֽ⁠וֹ 1 In this verse and the next one, the author is providing background information to help readers understand what happens next in the story. In your translation, introduce this information in a way that would be natural in your own language and culture.
8:30 j362 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result וּ⁠לְ⁠גִדְע֗וֹן הָיוּ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים בָּנִ֔ים יֹצְאֵ֖י יְרֵכ֑⁠וֹ כִּֽי־נָשִׁ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹת הָ֥יוּ לֽ⁠וֹ 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “Now Gideon had many wives, so he had 70 sons coming from his thigh”
8:30 j363 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship בָּנִ֔ים יֹצְאֵ֖י יְרֵכ֑⁠וֹ 1 The author is using the expression **coming from his thigh** to mean that Gideon was the biological father of all these **sons**. Gideon did not adopt any sons or marry any widows who already had sons by their late husbands. Your language may have its own term or expression that communicates this meaning. Alternate translation: “sons of his own”
8:31 j364 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-participants אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ 1 The author is introducing **Abimelek** as a new participant in the story. He will be the main character in Chapter 9. If your language has its own way of introducing new participants, you can use it here in your translation.
8:31 j365 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ 1 The author could assume that his original audience would know that the Hebrew name **Abimelek** means “my father is king.” While Gideon had refused to become the actual king of Israel, he may have given this name to his son to suggest that he was, in a sense, a king, since he had been offered the kingship. Unfortunately this seems to have made Abimelek ambitious to become an actual king, with disastrous consequences, as Chapter 9 describes. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate the meaning of this name explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: “Abimelek, which means ‘my father is king’”
8:32 i3jl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom בְּ⁠שֵׂיבָ֣ה טוֹבָ֑ה 1 The author is using a common expression that describes a person being very old. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “when he was very old”
8:32 w8yg rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּקָּבֵ֗ר 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “and his family buried him”
8:33 be44 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יְהִ֗י 1 The author is using this phrase to introduce a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
8:33 l1r2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַ⁠יָּשׁ֨וּבוּ֙ 1 The author is speaking as if the Israelites literally **turned** and faced or went in a different direction. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the same expression in [2:19](../02/19.md). Alternate translation: “that … changed their behavior”
8:33 gh13 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַ⁠יִּזְנ֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַ⁠בְּעָלִ֑ים 1 See how you translated the same expression in [2:17](../02/17.md). Alternate translation: “and betrayed Yahweh by worshiping the Baals”
8:33 ce8s rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names וַ⁠יָּשִׂ֧ימוּ לָ⁠הֶ֛ם בַּ֥עַל בְּרִ֖ית לֵ⁠אלֹהִֽים 1 The expression **Baal-Berith** is the name of a false god. It means “master of the covenant.” This name also appears in [9:4](../09/04.md) and in the form El-Berith (which means “god of the covenant”) in [9:46](../09/46.md).
8:34 j366 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-events וְ⁠לֹ֤א זָֽכְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵי⁠הֶ֑ם הַ⁠מַּצִּ֥יל אוֹתָ֛⁠ם מִ⁠יַּ֥ד כָּל־אֹיְבֵי⁠הֶ֖ם מִ⁠סָּבִֽיב 1 Since Yahweh **delivered** the Israelites before they failed to **remember** him, in your translation you may wish to relate these events in the order in which they happened. The UST models one way to do this.
8:34 j367 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְ⁠לֹ֤א זָֽכְרוּ֙ 1 The author is speaking as if the Israelites literally **did not remember** who Yahweh was or what he had done for them. He means that they were not grateful to Yahweh and so did not respond the way grateful people would, with loyal devotion. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And … did not gratefully worship”
8:35 j368 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠לֹֽא־עָשׂ֣וּ חֶ֔סֶד עִם 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **covenant faithfulness**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “And they did not behave loyally toward”
8:35 svf8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor בֵּ֥ית יְרֻבַּ֖עַל גִּדְע֑וֹן 1 See how you translated the term **house** in [8:27](../08/27.md). Alternate translation: “the descendants of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon”
8:35 j369 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns הַ⁠טּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **good**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the good things that he did for Israel”
9:intro zl19 0 # Judges 9 General Notes\n\n## Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter\n\n### Jotham’s curse\n\nGideon’s son, Abimelech, killed all of his brothers except Jotham in order to become king of Shechem. Jotham cursed Abimelech for having murdered Gideon’s other sons. “Let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and the house of Millo. Let fire come out from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo, to burn up Abimelech.” (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/curse]])\n\n## Translation Issues in This Chapter\n\n### Tree metaphor\n\nThis chapter contains an extended metaphor about trees. This metaphor functions as a parable instructing Israel about their sinful desire to have a king. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
9:1 j370 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent Now Abimelek, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem The author is introducing a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
9:1 j371 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship the brothers of his mother & the father of his mother Your language may have its own term or expression for these relationships. Alternate translation: “his maternal uncles … his maternal grandfather”
9:2 gfl5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes Please speak in the ears of all of the lords of Shechem, ‘What is better for you, 70 men ruling over you, all of the sons of Jerubbaal, or one man ruling over you?’ If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Please ask all the lords of Shechem out loud whether it is better for them to have 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, ruling over them or to have one man ruling over them.”
9:2 j372 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy speak in the ears of all of the lords of Shechem Abimelek is using the term **ears** by association to mean hearing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “speak so that all of the lords of Shechem can hear you” or “please say out loud to all of the lords of Shechem”
9:2 j373 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion What is better for you, 70 men ruling over you, all of the sons of Jerubbaal, or one man ruling over you? Abimelek wants his relatives to use the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “It is certainly better for you to have one man ruling over you than to have 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, ruling over you!”
9:1 j370 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יֵּ֨לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ בֶּן־יְרֻבַּ֨עַל֙ שְׁכֶ֔מָ⁠ה The author is introducing a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
9:1 j371 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-kinship אֲחֵ֖י אִמּ֑⁠וֹ & אֲבִ֥י אִמּ֖⁠וֹ Your language may have its own term or expression for these relationships. Alternate translation: “his maternal uncles … his maternal grandfather”
9:2 gfl5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes דַּבְּרוּ־נָ֞א בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֨י כָל־בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶם֮ מַה־טּ֣וֹב לָ⁠כֶם֒ הַ⁠מְשֹׁ֨ל בָּ⁠כֶ֜ם שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ כֹּ֚ל בְּנֵ֣י יְרֻבַּ֔עַל אִם־מְשֹׁ֥ל בָּ⁠כֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֑ד If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Please ask all the lords of Shechem out loud whether it is better for them to have 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, ruling over them or to have one man ruling over them.”
9:2 j372 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy דַּבְּרוּ & בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֨י כָל־בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶם֮ Abimelek is using the term **ears** by association to mean hearing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “speak so that all of the lords of Shechem can hear you” or “please say out loud to all of the lords of Shechem”
9:2 j373 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מַה־טּ֣וֹב לָ⁠כֶם֒ הַ⁠מְשֹׁ֨ל בָּ⁠כֶ֜ם שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ כֹּ֚ל בְּנֵ֣י יְרֻבַּ֔עַל אִם־מְשֹׁ֥ל בָּ⁠כֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֑ד Abimelek wants his relatives to use the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “It is certainly better for you to have one man ruling over you than to have 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, ruling over you!”
9:2 e38y rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-merism I {am} your bone and your flesh Abimelek is using the two main components of the human body, **bone** and **flesh**, to mean the whole body, and when he tells the people of Shechem that he is part of the same body with them, he means that he is their close relative. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You could also state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I am your own flesh and blood” or “I am your close relative”
9:3 ie29 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy in the ears of See how you translated the same expression in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “in the hearing of” or “out loud to”
9:3 j374 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result and their heart turned after Abimelek, for they said, “He {is} our brother.” If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “and when they considered, ‘He is our brother,’ their heart turned after Abimelek”

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