But when the people of Israel cried to the LORD creates a smooth transition in English. However, Hebrew has an independent clause here, introduced by the waw conjunction, literally “And the sons [or, children] of Israel cried out to the LORD.” Some versions see the waw as introducing the next step, and thus render it “Then” (Good News Translation). Others, such as Revised Standard Version, see rather a note of unexpectedness here: “The LORD is furious, but when….” Translators should read their translation out loud to see which transition is most appropriate. In some languages subordinate clauses are used to introduce background information as in Revised Standard Version here. But since this clause describes an important step in the episode, many translators may prefer to follow the Hebrew and use an independent clause (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), for example, “Then the people of Israel cried to the LORD.”
This clause introduces a new element only hinted at earlier (verse 2.18), namely that the Israelites cried to the LORD. Many think this phrase refers to an overt demonstration of their inward regret or repentance over their acts. Others think that they were merely crying out for help, in light of their great suffering. Here cried does not mean that the people wept, but rather that they called out to the LORD. As the text does not say clearly what their motivation was, translators should not make this explicit. Keeping close to the text, we might say they “cried to the LORD for help” or somewhat generally, “in their suffering … they cried out to the LORD.”
The LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who delivered them: While verse 2.16 describes this step in the general judges’ pattern, this is the first account of the LORD sending a particular deliverer. For raised up, see comments on verse 2.16, where the importance of this key verb is discussed. While some say “sent” (Good News Translation) or “chose” (Contemporary English Version), keeping a verb such as raised up would be ideal.
A deliverer is the person God sent to save Israel. The word deliverer renders a participle of the Hebrew verb (yashaʿ) meaning “save,” “rescue,” or “deliver.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “champion.” For more discussion of this verb, see comments on verse 2.16, where it is translated “saved.” The expression a deliverer … who delivered them is another emphatic construction where both the noun and the verb render the same Hebrew root (see verse 3.4). This expression thus marks a high point in the narrative. However, in many languages translating literally will be too repetitive. Some versions use two different words, for example, “a deliverer … who saved them” (New International Version). Good News Translation reduces the two words to one by saying “someone to free them.”
Othni-el the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother: According to the arrangement of the book, Othni-el is the first of Israel’s judges. However, from the book of Joshua it would seem that he was a leader in Israel long before Joshua died. This highlights the fact that the book of Judges is more concerned with lessons that can be drawn from past events rather than their precise placement on a time line.
The name Othni-el and his family connections indicate that this is the same person who captured Debir and married Caleb’s daughter (verse 1.13; verse 15.17). It now becomes evident why this person was presented in the introductory material (verse 1.11-15). He appears as the first hero of Israel, and his life and his works constitute the pattern that the later judges will follow. It is not Othni-el, but Kenaz who is Caleb’s younger brother. This makes Othni-el the nephew of Caleb. See the discussion at verse 1.13.
Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew word order and places the phrase concerning Othni-el quite far from the word deliverer. This sounds unnatural in English and may be unnatural in other languages. To remedy this, Good News Translation places this phrase in a new sentence, saying “This was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz.” Another possible rendering is “His name was Othniel…” or “He was Othniel….” Yet another approach would be to introduce Othniel’s name earlier in the clause, for example, “he raised up Othniel, a deliverer to rescue Israel. He was the son of….”
Some translation models for this verse are:
• Then the Israelites called for the LORD to help, and he sent Othniel to rescue them. Othniel was the son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz.
• But the people of Israel cried out to the LORD to rescue them, and he sent them a deliverer named Othniel. He was the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .