Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early …: There is an abrupt shift here from verse 6.40, where Gideon is alone with God, to this scene with Gideon installing his troops near the enemy camp. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered Then might be mistakenly understood to mean that he immediately assembled his soldiers. But this is not the case. Gideon waited at least until the next day, and perhaps longer. Most versions take the Hebrew verb rendered rose early to mean that Gideon and his troops started out early the next day, so they render the waw conjunction as “Early [the] next morning” (Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible) or “Early next day” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Good News Translation, however, places the scene sometime later by beginning with “One day.” Another possible model is “So sometime later.”
With the phrase Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon), the narrator ensures that readers or listeners know that Jerubbaal and Gideon are one and the same person. In verse 6.32 Gideon is given the name Jerubbaal (meaning “let Baal defend himself”). As he assumes his role as military leader, he is referred to by this name. That is, Gideon is literally “he Gideon.” We might say “that is to say Gideon” or use another natural expression. Revised Standard Version and many other versions put that is, Gideon in parentheses, but of course, this kind of punctuation is not in the Hebrew text. Many languages will prefer to begin with the known name by saying “Gideon, now named Jerubbaal” or “Gideon, whose name was changed to Jerubbaal.” Though the name Jerubbaal is used only one more time in this story (verse 8.29), it reappears in the stories told about Gideon’s sons (see, for example, verse 9.2, 5, 19, 24). Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit Gideon’s new name here, but this is not recommended. This name shows that Baal is being challenged, and this emphasis should not be lost here.
All the people who were with him uses the Hebrew word for people (ʿam) that most often refers to the Israelites in general (verse 1.16), but here the term refers to the Israelite troops who responded to Gideon’s call to follow him (verse 6.34-35). So New American Bible says “all his soldiers,” Revised English Bible has “all his troops,” Good News Translation uses “all his men,” and Contemporary English Version translates “his army.” However, this phrase may underline the oneness of spirit with which the Israelites decided to go to battle.
The Hebrew verb rendered rose early (see verse 6.28) is not the key verb qum. This verb comes from a Hebrew root that means “to shoulder,” and probably refers to loading the pack animals early in the day for a journey. So here it may be rendered “made preparations and left early.” Good News Translation provides a good model here with “got up early.”
And encamped beside the spring of Harod: Encamped means Gideon and his men pitched their tents and camped (see verse 6.4). Obviously they were preparing for battle, so this can be made clear by saying “set up camp in preparation for battle” or “got installed … where they made preparations to meet the enemy.” The spring of Harod refers to the spring of water at a place now called Ain Jalud on the northwestern side of Mount Gilboa. It was a strategic military location. Many versions transliterate the Hebrew here, saying “En-harod” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but if there is a word to designate a spring or a place where fresh water flows out of the earth, it can be used here. The use of the word Harod begins a wordplay based on this name and the Hebrew root (ch-r-d) meaning “be afraid” or “tremble.” Contemporary English Version anticipates this play on words by translating “Fear Spring” here. However, many languages will prefer to let the story unfold naturally. This information can be put in a footnote.
And the camp of Midian was north of them: This clause gives the location of the Midianite troops who have already arrived and set up their camp (see verse 6.33). The Hebrew noun for camp (machaneh) comes from the same root as the verb for “encamp” (verse 6.4, 33) and is used throughout the Old Testament to refer to temporary encampments of both the Israelites and their enemies. Though often referring to a military camp where soldiers set up their tents, this word is also used to refer to individual homes and even the area around the Tabernacle (Num 1.52). This word may also refer figuratively to an “army” (see verse 4.15-16; Exo 14.19). Here machaneh refers a temporary military camp set up by the Midianites. Translators need to find a word designating a temporary settlement that might remain in place for a few days, many weeks, or months. In Hebrew the location of the Midianite camp is given, but in many languages it will be more natural to refer to the location of the Midianite soldiers by beginning this clause with “and the Midianites camped…” or “The Midianite army had set up camp….” North of them means the Midianite army was north of the Israelite army. For north see verse 2.9. Some languages say “to the left of them.”
By the hill of Moreh, in the valley gives more detail concerning the position of the Midianite army. In Hebrew the preposition rendered by is literally “from.” This means that the Midianites installed their camp at the foot of Mount Moreh, spreading out into the valley from there. New Revised Standard Version uses the preposition “below,” making it clear that Mount Moreh overlooked the valley. The hill of Moreh renders an unusual Hebrew expression, which New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh transliterates as “Gibeath-moreh” (similarly New American Bible). Moreh was a small mountain about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north of Harod Spring. In languages where there is no distinction between “mountain” and “hill,” translators could say “the little mountain named Moreh” (see comments on verse 1.9). The valley refers to Jezreel Valley (see verse 6.33). For valley see verse 5.14. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “plain.” In many languages it will be easier to begin this whole phrase with in the valley by saying “in the valley at the foot of Mount Moreh.” Good News Translation is similar with “in the valley [to the north of them] by Moreh hill.”
Translation models for this verse are:
• So Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon), along with all his warriors, got up early in the morning and left to set up camp at Harod Spring.* The Midianite army had camped north of them in the plain at the foot of Moreh Mountain.
* This means “spring of fear” or “trembling spring.”
• Early the next morning, Gideon, whose name had been changed to “Let Baal defend himself,” called together all his warriors and they left to meet the enemy. They set up their camp at Harod Spring, the Spring of Trembling. The Midianites were north of them in the valley, at the foot of Mount Moreh.
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 .