Revised Literal Translation

Judges 3

1Now these arethe nationsהַגּוֹיִם֙ha.go.YimH1471which Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068leftH3240,to proveלְנַסּ֥וֹתle.na.SotH5254Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478by them, even as many of Israelas had not knownיָדְע֔וּya.de.'UH3045all the warsמִלְחֲמ֥וֹתmil.cha.MotH4421of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ke.Na.'anH3667;

2Only thatH7535the generationsדֹּר֣וֹתdo.RotH1755of the childrenבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478might knowדַּ֚עַתDa.'atH3045,to teachלְלַמְּדָ֖םle.la.me.DamH3925them warמִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahH4421,at the least such as beforeלְפָנִ֖יםle.fa.NimH6440knewיְדָעֽוּם׃ye.da.'UmH3045nothing thereof;

3Namely,fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁת׀cha.Me.shetH2568lordsסַרְנֵ֣יsar.NeiH5633of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםfe.lish.TimH6430,and all the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,and the Sidoniansוְהַצִּ֣ידֹנִ֔יve.ha.Tzi.do.NiH6722,and the Hivitesוְהַ֣חִוִּ֔יve.Ha.chi.ViH2340that dweltיֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427in mountהַ֣רharH2022Lebanonהַלְּבָנ֑וֹןha.le.va.NonH3844,from mountמֵהַר֙me.HarH2022Baal–hermonH1179unto the entering inלְב֥וֹאle.Vo'H935of Hamathחֲמָֽת׃cha.MatH2574.

4And they were to proveלְנַסּ֥וֹתle.na.SotH5254Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478by them, to knowלָדַ֗עַתla.Da.'atH3045whether they would hearkenהֲיִשְׁמְעוּ֙ha.yish.me.'UH8085unto the commandmentsמִצְוֹ֣תmitz.VotH4687of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,which he commandedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680their fathersאֲבוֹתָ֖ם'a.vo.TamH1by the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of Mosesמֹשֶֽׁה׃mo.ShehH4872.

5And the childrenוּבְנֵ֣יu.ve.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478dweltיָשְׁב֖וּya.she.VuH3427amongבְּקֶ֣רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,Hittitesהַחִתִּ֤יha.chi.TiH2850,and Amoritesוְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ve.ha.'e.mo.RiH567,and Perizzitesוְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יve.hap.pe.ri.ZiH6522,and Hivitesוְהַחִוִּ֖יve.ha.chi.ViH2340,and Jebusitesוְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃ve.hay.vu.SiH2983:

6And they tookוַיִּקְח֨וּvai.yik.ChuH3947their daughtersבְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֤םbe.no.tei.HemH1323to be their wivesלְנָשִׁ֔יםle.na.ShimH802,and gaveנָתְנ֣וּna.te.NuH5414their daughtersבְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֖םbe.no.tei.HemH1323to their sonsלִבְנֵיהֶ֑םliv.nei.HemH1121,and servedוַיַּעַבְד֖וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647their godsאֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ פ'e.lo.hei.HemH430.

7And the childrenבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478didוַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּvai.ya.'a.SuH6213evilהָרַע֙ha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and forgatוַֽיִּשְׁכְּח֖וּvai.yish.ke.ChuH7911Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068their Godאֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430,and servedוַיַּעַבְד֥וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647Baalimהַבְּעָלִ֖יםha.be.'a.LimH1168and the grovesהָאֲשֵׁרֽוֹת׃ha.'a.she.RotH842.

8Therefore the angerאַ֤ף'afH639of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068was hotוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,and he soldוַֽיִּמְכְּרֵ֗םvai.yim.ke.RemH4376them into the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of Chushan–rishathaimH3573kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of MesopotamiaH763:and the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478servedוַיַּעַבְד֧וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647Chushan–rishathaimH3573eightשְׁמֹנֶ֥הshe.mo.NehH8083yearsשָׁנִֽים׃sha.NimH8141.

9And when the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478criedוַיִּזְעֲק֤וּvai.yiz.'a.KuH2199unto Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068raised upוַיָּ֨קֶםvai.Ya.kemH6965a delivererמוֹשִׁ֛יעַmo.Shi.a'H3467to the childrenלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,who deliveredוַיּֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֑םvai.yo.shi.'EmH3467them, evenOthnielעָתְנִיאֵ֣ל'a.te.ni.'ElH6274the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Kenazקְנַ֔זke.NazH7073,Caleb’sכָלֵ֖בkha.LevH3612youngerהַקָּטֹ֥ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherאֲחִ֥י'a.ChiH251.

10And the Spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307of Yhwhיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068came upon him, and he judgedוַיִּשְׁפֹּ֣טvai.yish.PotH8199Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֒Yis.ra.'ElH3478,and went outוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318to warלַמִּלְחָמָ֔הla.mil.cha.MahH4421:And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068deliveredוַיִּתֵּ֤ןvai.yi.TenH5414Chushan–rishathaimH3573kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of MesopotamiaH763into his handבְּיָד֔וֹbe.ya.DoH3027;and his handיָד֔וֹya.DoH3027prevailedוַתָּ֣עָזva.Ta.'ozH5810against Chushan–rishathaimH3573.

11And the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776had restוַתִּשְׁקֹ֥טva.tish.KotH8252fortyאַרְבָּעִ֣ים'ar.ba.'ImH705yearsשָׁנָ֑הsha.NahH8141.And Othnielעָתְנִיאֵ֥ל'a.te.ni.'ElH6274the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Kenazקְנַֽז׃ פke.NazH7073diedוַיָּ֖מָתvai.Ya.motH4191.

12And the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478didלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213evilהָרַ֖עha.Ra'H7451againוַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙vai.yo.Si.fuH3254in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068strengthenedוַיְחַזֵּ֨קvay.cha.ZekH2388Eglonעֶגְל֤וֹןeg.LonH5700the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124against Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,because they had doneעָשׂ֥וּ'a.SuH6213evilהָרַ֖עha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

13And he gatheredוַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ףvai.ye.'e.SofH622unto him the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Ammonעַמּ֖וֹןa.MonH5983and Amalekוַעֲמָלֵ֑קva.'a.ma.LekH6002,and wentH3212and smoteוַיַּךְ֙vai.yaKhH5221Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and possessedוַיִּֽירְשׁ֖וּvai.yi.re.ShuH3423the cityH5892of palm treesH5899 H8558.

14So the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478servedוַיַּעַבְד֤וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647Eglonעֶגְל֣וֹןeg.LonH5700the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124eighteenשְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה עֶשְׂרֵ֖הshe.mo.Neh 'es.RehH6240 H8083yearsשָׁנָֽה׃ סsha.NahH8141.

15But when the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֮Yis.ra.'ElH3478criedוַיִּזְעֲק֣וּvai.yiz.'a.KuH2199unto Yhwhיְהוָה֒Yah.wehH3068,Yhwhיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068raised them upוַיָּקֶם֩vai.ya.KemH6965a delivererמוֹשִׁ֗יעַmo.Shi.a'H3467,Ehudאֵה֤וּד'e.HudH164the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Geraגֵּרָא֙ge.Ra'H1617,a BenjamiteH1145,a manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376lefthandedאִטֵּ֖ר יְמִינ֑וֹ'i.Ter ye.mi.NoH3225 H334:and by himH3027the childrenבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478sentוַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּvai.yish.le.ChuH7971a presentמִנְחָ֔הmin.ChahH4503unto Eglonלְעֶגְל֖וֹןle.'eg.LonH5700the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָֽב׃mo.'AvH4124.

16But Ehudאֵה֜וּד'e.HudH164madeוַיַּעַשׂ֩vai.ya.'AsH6213him a daggerחֶ֗רֶבChe.revH2719which had twoשְׁנֵ֥יshe.NeiH8147edgesפֵי֖וֹתfe.YotH6366,of a cubitגֹּ֣מֶדGo.medH1574lengthאָרְכָּ֑הּ'a.re.KahH753;and he did girdוַיַּחְגֹּ֤רvai.yach.GorH2296it under his raimentלְמַדָּ֔יוle.ma.DavH4055upon his rightיְמִינֽוֹ׃ye.mi.NoH3225thighיֶ֥רֶךְYe.rekhH3409.

17And he broughtוַיַּקְרֵב֙vai.yak.RevH7126the presentהַמִּנְחָ֔הha.min.ChahH4503unto Eglonלְעֶגְל֖וֹןle.'eg.LonH5700kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmo.'AvH4124:and Eglonוְעֶגְל֕וֹןve.'eg.LonH5700wasa veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966fatבָּרִ֖יאba.Ri'H1277manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376.

18And when he had made an endכִּלָּ֔הki.LahH3615to offerלְהַקְרִ֖יבle.hak.RivH7126the presentהַמִּנְחָ֑הha.min.ChahH4503,he sent awayוַיְשַׁלַּח֙vay.sha.LachH7971the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971that bareנֹשְׂאֵ֖יno.se.'EiH5375the presentהַמִּנְחָֽה׃ha.min.ChahH4503.

19But he himself turned againשָׁ֗בShavH7725from the quarriesהַפְּסִילִים֙ha.pe.si.LimH6456that wereby Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּ֔לha.gil.GalH1537,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I have a secretסֵ֥תֶרSe.terH5643errandדְּבַר־de.var-H1697unto thee, O kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428:who saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Keep silenceהָ֔סHasH2013.And all that stoodהָעֹמְדִ֖יםha.'o.me.DimH5975by him went outוַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙vai.ye.tze.'UH3318from him.

20And Ehudוְאֵה֣וּד׀ve.'e.HudH164cameבָּ֣אba'H935unto him; and he was sittingיֹ֠שֵׁבYo.shevH3427in a summerהַמְּקֵרָ֤הha.me.ke.RahH4747parlourבַּעֲלִיַּ֨תba.'a.li.YatH5944,which he had for himself alone. And Ehudאֵה֔וּד'e.HudH164saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I have a messageדְּבַר־de.var-H1697from Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.HimH430unto thee. And he aroseוַיָּ֖קָםvai.Ya.komH6965out of hisseatהַכִּסֵּֽא׃ha.ki.Se'H3678.

21And Ehudאֵהוּד֙'e.HudH164put forthוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971his leftשְׂמֹאל֔וֹse.mo.LoH8040handיַ֣דyadH3027,and tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947the daggerהַחֶ֔רֶבha.Che.revH2719from his rightיְמִינ֑וֹye.mi.NoH3225thighיֶ֣רֶךְYe.rekhH3409,and thrustוַיִּתְקָעֶ֖הָvai.yit.ka.'E.haH8628it into his bellyבְּבִטְנֽוֹ׃be.vit.NoH990:

22And the haftהַנִּצָּ֜בha.ni.TzavH5325also went inוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935afterאַחַ֣ר'a.CharH310the bladeהַלַּ֗הַבha.La.havH3851;and the fatהַחֵ֙לֶב֙ha.Che.levH2459closedוַיִּסְגֹּ֤רvai.yis.GorH5462uponבְּעַ֣דbe.'AdH1157the bladeהַלַּ֔הַבha.La.havH3851,so that he could not drawשָׁלַ֛ףsha.LafH8025the daggerהַחֶ֖רֶבha.Che.revH2719out of his bellyמִבִּטְנ֑וֹmi.bit.NoH990;and the dirtהַֽפַּרְשְׁדֹֽנָה׃Ha.par.she.Do.nahH6574came outוַיֵּצֵ֖אvai.ye.Tze'H3318.

23Then Ehudאֵה֖וּד'e.HudH164went forthוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318through the porchהַֽמִּסְדְּר֑וֹנָהha.mis.de.Ro.nahH4528,and shutוַיִּסְגֹּ֞רvai.yis.GorH5462the doorsדַּלְת֧וֹתdal.TotH1817of the parlourהָעַלִיָּ֛הha.'a.li.YahH5944upon him, and lockedוְנָעָֽל׃ve.na.'AlH5274them.

24When he was gone outיָצָא֙ya.Tza'H3318,his servantsוַעֲבָדָ֣יוva.'a.va.DavH5650cameבָּ֔אוּBa.'uH935;and when they sawוַיִּרְא֕וּvai.yir.'UH7200that, behold, the doorsדַּלְת֥וֹתdal.TotH1817of the parlourהָעֲלִיָּ֖הha.'a.li.YahH5944werelockedנְעֻל֑וֹתne.'u.LotH5274,they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,Surely he coverethמֵסִ֥יךְme.SikhH5526his feetרַגְלָ֖יוrag.LavH7272in his summerהַמְּקֵרָֽה׃ha.me.ke.RahH4747chamberבַּחֲדַ֥רba.cha.DarH2315.

25And they tarriedוַיָּחִ֣ילוּvai.ya.Chi.luH2342till they were ashamedבּ֔וֹשׁBo.oshH954:and, behold, he openedפֹתֵ֖חַfo.Te.achH6605not the doorsדַּלְת֣וֹתdal.TotH1817of the parlourהָֽעֲלִיָּ֑הha.'a.li.YahH5944;therefore they tookוַיִּקְח֤וּvai.yik.ChuH3947a keyהַמַּפְתֵּ֙חַ֙ha.maf.Te.achH4668,and openedוַיִּפְתָּ֔חוּvai.yif.Ta.chuH6605them:and, behold, their lordאֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם'a.Do.nei.HemH113wasfallen downנֹפֵ֥לno.FelH5307deadמֵֽת׃MetH4191on the earthאַ֖רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776.

26And Ehudוְאֵה֥וּדve.'e.HudH164escapedנִמְלַ֖טnim.LatH4422while they tarriedהִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑םhit.mah.me.HamH4102,and passed beyondעָבַ֣ר'a.VarH5674the quarriesהַפְּסִילִ֔יםha.pe.si.LimH6456,and escapedוַיִּמָּלֵ֖טvai.yi.ma.LetH4422unto Seirathהַשְּׂעִירָֽתָה׃ha.se.'i.Ra.tahH8167.

27And it came to pass, when he was comeבְּבוֹא֔וֹbe.vo.'OH935,that he blewוַיִּתְקַ֥עvai.yit.Ka'H8628a trumpetבַּשּׁוֹפָ֖רba.sho.FarH7782in the mountainבְּהַ֣רbe.HarH2022of Ephraimאֶפְרָ֑יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669,and the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478went downוַיֵּרְד֨וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381with him from the mountהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022,and he beforeלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.HemH6440them.

28And he saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Followרִדְפ֣וּrid.FuH7291afterאַחֲרַ֔י'a.cha.RaiH310me: for Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068hath deliveredנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414your enemiesאֹיְבֵיכֶ֛ם'o.ye.vei.KhemH341the Moabitesמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124into your handבְּיֶדְכֶ֑םbe.yed.KhemH3027.And they went downוַיֵּרְד֣וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381afterאַחֲרָ֗יו'a.cha.RavH310him, and tookוַֽיִּלְכְּד֞וּvai.yil.ke.DuH3920the fordsמַעְבְּר֤וֹתma'.be.RotH4569of Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּן֙hai.yar.DenH3383toward Moabלְמוֹאָ֔בle.mo.'AvH4124,and sufferedנָתְנ֥וּna.te.NuH5414not a manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376to pass overלַעֲבֹֽר׃la.'a.VorH5674.

29And they slewוַיַּכּ֨וּvai.ya.KuH5221of Moabמוֹאָ֜בmo.'AvH4124at that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256about tenכַּעֲשֶׂ֤רֶתka.'a.Se.retH6235thousandאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505menאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376,all lustyשָׁמֵ֖ןsha.MenH8082,and all menאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of valourחָ֑יִלCha.yilH2428;and there escapedנִמְלַ֖טnim.LatH4422not a manאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376.

30So Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124was subduedוַתִּכָּנַ֤עva.ti.ka.Na'H3665that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117under the handיַ֣דyadH3027of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478.And the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776had restוַתִּשְׁקֹ֥טva.tish.KotH8252fourscoreשְׁמוֹנִ֥יםshe.mo.NimH8084yearsשָׁנָֽה׃ סsha.NahH8141.

31And afterוְאַחֲרָ֤יוve.'a.cha.RavH310him was Shamgarשַׁמְגַּ֣רsham.GarH8044the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Anathעֲנָ֔ת'a.NatH6067,which slewוַיַּ֤ךְvai.YakhH5221of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙pe.lish.TimH6430sixשֵֽׁשׁ־shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967menאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376with an oxהַבָּקָ֑רha.ba.KarH1241goadבְּמַלְמַ֖דbe.mal.MadH4451:and he also deliveredוַיֹּ֥שַׁעvai.Yo.sha'H3467Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElH3478.

Commentaries on Judges 3