translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: JDG

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “did not know the wars of Canaan.”


text: The Hebrew syntax of v. 2 is difficult. The Hebrew text reads literally, “only in order that the generations of the Israelites might know, to teach them war – only those who formerly did not know them.” sn The stated purpose for leaving the nations ( to teach the subsequent generations…how to conduct holy war ) seems to contradict 2:22 and 3:4 , which indicate the nations were left to test Israel’s loyalty to the Lord . However, the two stated purposes can be harmonized. The willingness of later generations to learn and engage in holy war would measure their allegiance to the Lord (see B. G. Webb, Judges [JSOTSup], 114-15).


text: The words “These were the nations,” though not present in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarity.


text: Or “the entrance to Hamath.”


text: Heb “to know if they would hear the commands of the Lord which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”


text: Heb “to their sons.”


text: Or “served”; or “followed” (this term occurs in the following verse as well).


text: Heb “in the eyes of the Lord .”


text: Or “The Lord ’s anger burned (or raged) against Israel.”


text: Heb “sold them into the hands of.”


text: Or “Cushan the Doubly Wicked.”


text: Or “they served Cushan-Rishathaim.”


text: Heb “the Lord .”


text: Or “delivered.”


text: “Caleb’s younger brother” may refer to Othniel or to Kenaz (in which case Othniel is Caleb’s nephew).


text: Heb “was on him.”


text: Heb “his hand was strong against Cushan-Rishathaim.”


text: Heb “in the eyes of the Lord ” (also later in this verse).


text: Heb “strengthened Eglon…against Israel.”


text: Heb “and he gathered to him.”


text: Or “the Israelites served Eglon.”


text: Heb “the Lord .” This has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.


text: The phrase, which refers to Ehud, literally reads “bound/restricted in the right hand,” apparently a Hebrew idiom for a left-handed person. See Judg 20:16 , where 700 Benjaminites are described in this way. Perhaps the Benjaminites purposely trained several of their young men to be left-handed warriors by restricting the use of the right hand from an early age so the left hand would become dominant. Left-handed men would have a distinct military advantage, especially when attacking city gates. See B. Halpern, “The Assassination of Eglon: The First Locked-Room Murder Mystery,” BRev 4 (1988): 35.


text: Heb “The Israelites sent by his hand an offering to Eglon, king of Moab.”


text: The Hebrew term גֹּמֶד ( gomed ) denotes a unit of linear measure, perhaps a cubit (the distance between the elbow and the tip of the middle finger – approximately 18 inches [45 cm]). Some suggest it is equivalent to the short cubit (the distance between the elbow and the knuckles of the clenched fist – approximately 13 inches [33 cm]) or to the span (the distance between the end of the thumb and the end of the little finger in a spread hand – approximately 9 inches [23 cm]). See BDB 167 s.v.; HALOT 196 s.v.; B. Lindars, Judges 1-5 , 142.


text: Heb “the tribute payment.”


text: Or “returned” (i.e., to Eglon’s palace).


text: The words “when he reached” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text simply reads “from.”


text: Or “idols.”


text: The words “to Eglon” are supplied in the translation for clarification.


text: Heb “he”; the referent (Eglon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Or “Hush!”


text: Or “cool.” This probably refers to a room with latticed windows which allowed the breeze to pass through. See B. Lindars, Judges 1-5 , 144.


text: Heb “word of [i.e., from] God.”


text: Or “throne.”


text: Heb “his”; the referent (Eglon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “he”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: The Hebrew text has “and he went out to the [?].” The meaning of the Hebrew word פַּרְשְׁדֹנָה ( parshÿdonah ) which occurs only here in the OT, is uncertain. The noun has the article prefixed and directive suffix. The word may be a technical architectural term, indicating the area into which Ehud moved as he left the king and began his escape. In this case Ehud is the subject of the verb “went out.” The present translation omits the clause, understanding it as an ancient variant of the first clause in v. 23 . Some take the noun as “back,” understand “sword” (from the preceding clause) as the subject, and translate “the sword came out his [i.e., Eglon’s] back.” But this rendering is unlikely since the Hebrew word for “sword” ( חֶרֶב , kherev ) is feminine and the verb form translated “came out” ( וַיֵּצֵא , vayyetse ’) is masculine. (One expects agreement in gender when the subject is supplied from the preceding clause. See Ezek 33:4, 6 .) See B. Lindars, Judges 1-5 , 146-48, for discussion of the options.


text: Again the precise meaning of the Hebrew word, used only here in the OT, is uncertain. Since it is preceded by the verb “went out” and the next clause refers to Ehud closing doors, the noun is probably an architectural term referring to the room (perhaps a vestibule; see HALOT 604 s.v. מִסְדְּרוֹן ) immediately outside the king’s upper chamber. As v. 24 indicates, this vestibule separated the upper room from an outer room where the king's servants were waiting.


text: Heb “his.”


text: Heb “covering his feet” (i.e., with his outer garments while he relieves himself).


text: The Hebrew expression translated “well-ventilated inner room” may refer to the upper room itself or to a bathroom attached to or within it.


text: The words “the doors” are supplied.


text: Heb “See, their master, fallen to the ground, dead.”


text: Heb “When he arrived.”


text: That is, “mustered an army.”


text: Heb “now he was before them.”


text: Heb “for the Lord has given your enemies, Moab, into your hand.” The verb form (a Hebrew perfect, indicating completed action from the standpoint of the speaker) emphasizes the certainty of the event. Though it had not yet taken place, the Lord speaks of it as a “done deal.”


text: The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for clarity.


text: Or “against Moab,” that is, so as to prevent the Moabites from crossing.


text: Heb “They struck Moab that day – about ten thousand men.”


text: Heb “him”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “was.”