2tn 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).

3tn The words “These were the nations,” though not present in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarity.

4tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.”

5tn Heb “to know if they would hear the commands of the Lord which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”

6tn Heb “to their sons.”

7tn Or “served”; or “followed” (this term occurs in the following verse as well).

8tn Heb “in the eyes of the Lord.”

9sn The Asherahs were local manifestations of the Canaanite goddess Asherah.

10tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned (or raged) against Israel.”

11tn Heb “sold them into the hands of.”

12tn Or “Cushan the Doubly Wicked.”

13tn Or “they served Cushan-Rishathaim.”

14tn Heb “the Lord.”

15tn Or “delivered.”

16tn “Caleb’s younger brother” may refer to Othniel or to Kenaz (in which case Othniel is Caleb’s nephew).

17tn Heb “was on him.”

18tn Heb “his hand was strong against Cushan-Rishathaim.”

19tn Heb “in the eyes of the Lord” (also later in this verse).

20tn Heb “strengthened Eglon…against Israel.”

21tn Heb “and he gathered to him.”

22tn Or “the Israelites served Eglon.”

23tn Heb “the Lord.” This has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

24tn 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.

25tn Heb “The Israelites sent by his hand an offering to Eglon, king of Moab.”

26tn 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.

27tn Heb “the tribute payment.”

28tn Or “returned” (i.e., to Eglon’s palace).

29tn The words “when he reached” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text simply reads “from.”

30tn Or “idols.”

31tn The words “to Eglon” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

32tn Heb “he”; the referent (Eglon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

33tn Or “Hush!”

34tn 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.

35tn Heb “word of [i.e., from] God.”

36tn Or “throne.”

37tn Heb “his”; the referent (Eglon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

38tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

39tn The Hebrew text has “and he went out to the [?].” The meaning of the Hebrew word פַּרְשְׁדֹנָה (parsh˙donah) 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.

40tn 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.

41tn Heb “his.”

42tn Heb “covering his feet” (i.e., with his outer garments while he relieves himself).

43tn The Hebrew expression translated “well-ventilated inner room” may refer to the upper room itself or to a bathroom attached to or within it.

44tn The words “the doors” are supplied.

45tn Heb “See, their master, fallen to the ground, dead.”

46tn Heb “When he arrived.”

47tn That is, “mustered an army.”

48tn Heb “now he was before them.”

49tn 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.”

50tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for clarity.

51tn Or “against Moab,” that is, so as to prevent the Moabites from crossing.

52tn Heb “They struck Moab that day – about ten thousand men.”

53tn Heb “him”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

54tn Heb “was.”

55tn Heb “also he”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity.