# they chose new gods

The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "the people of Israel worshiped new gods" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])

# there was fighting at the city gates

Here "gates" represents the entire city. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "enemies attacked the people within the Israelite cities" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])

# there were no shields or spears seen among forty thousand in Israel

This statement is probably an exaggeration about how few weapons the Israelites had. Alternate translation: "few weapons for battle remained in Israel" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole]])

# forty thousand in Israel

"40,000 in Israel" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers]])