Judges 5:13-15

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Judges 5:13 tn This probably refers to those who responded to the call for war. They were “survivors” of the Canaanite oppression (see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 250).
2. Judges 5:13 tn The translation assumes a repointing of the verb as a perfect or imperfect/preterite form of יָרַד (yarad, “to go down”). The form as pointed in the MT appears to be from רָדָה (radah, “to rule”). See GKC 188 §69.g. The same form, translated “came down,” occurs in the next line as well.
3. Judges 5:13 sn The expression mighty ones probably refers to the leaders of the army.
4. Judges 5:13 sn The speaker may be Deborah here.
5. Judges 5:13 tn The translation assumes the preposition ב (bet) prefixed to “warriors” has the force of “in the capacity of.” For this use of the preposition, see GKC 379 §119.i.
6. Judges 5:14 tn Heb “From Ephraim their root in Amalek” (the words “they came” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons). Because of the difficulty of the MT, many prefer to follow one of the ancient versions or emend the text. For various proposals see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 252-53. The present translation repoints שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham, traditionally translated “their root”) as a Piel verb form with enclitic mem (ם). The preposition ב (bet) on עֲמָלֵק (ʿamaleq) introduces the object (see Job 31:12 for an example of the construction). Ephraim’s territory encompassed the hill country of the Amalekites (Judg 12:15).
7. Judges 5:14 tn The words “They follow” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
8. Judges 5:14 tn The word “came” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
9. Judges 5:14 tn Or possibly “who carry.”
10. Judges 5:15 tn Heb “Issachar.” The words “the men of” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
11. Judges 5:15 tn Or “were true to.”
12. Judges 5:15 tn Heb “at his feet.”
13. Judges 5:15 tn Heb “great was.”
14. Judges 5:15 tc The great majority of Hebrew mss have “resolves of heart,” but a few mss read “searchings of heart,” which is preferable in light of v. 16.