6:5
In verse 6:5, the LORD asked his people to remember two more significant events in Israel’s past that gave evidence of his goodness to his people. One event was his rescue of the people from Balak, the king of Moab. Another was when he brought the people from Shittim to Gilgal.
6:5a
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled: This clause refers to the plan of Balak to hire Balaam to curse the people of Israel. Consider placing a cross-reference here to Numbers 22–24.
My people: Use a term of address (vocative) that is natural in your language when a person speaks to a group of people.
remember: In Hebrew, the word remember is followed by a particle that indicates emphasis or insistence. Many versions including the Berean Standard Bible leave this word implied. Some English versions translate it as “now.” Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.
what Balak king of Moab counseled: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally a direct question, “What did Balak the king of Moab plan?”
In some other languages, it may also be natural to translate this clause (and the next clause in 5b) as a direct question. For example:
My people, please remember: what was Balak king of Moab’s plan and how did Balaam son of Beor answer him? (New Jerusalem Bible)
However, be sure your translation does not imply that the LORD is asking the people for information. He is asking them to remember this event.
In some languages, it is more natural to translate this clause as a statement rather than as a question. For example:
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted (New International Version (2011))
-or-
My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you (NET Bible)
Translate this clause in a natural way in your language.
This clause leaves implicit that King Balak’s plan was to put a curse on the people of Israel. Micah’s listeners at that time knew this information. However, the readers of your translation may not know it.
Here are some ways to translate this implicit information:
• Leave it implicit.
• Leave it implicit in the translation but provide the information in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
King Balak hired Balaam to put a curse on the people of Israel.
• Make it explicit in the translation. For example:
…King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed (New Living Translation (2004))
Balak king of Moab: Balak was the king of Moab at the time the people of Israel were ready to cross the Jordan river. He regarded the people as a threat. For more information about King Balak, see Numbers 22–24.
counseled: In Hebrew, this word means “planned” or “decided.”
In this context, the word refers to Balak’s plan that was directed against the people of Israel. Some versions make this information more explicit. For example:
Remember what Balak king of Moab
Plotted against you (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
6:5b
what Balaam son of Beor answered: This clause refers to Balaam’s pronouncement of blessings on the people of Israel instead of curses.
In Hebrew, this clause is a direct question, “and what did Balaam the son of Beor answer him?” See the discussion of the clause “what Balak king of Moab counseled” in 6:5a for suggestions on whether to translate this clause as a statement or as a question.
This clause leaves implicit that Balaam’s answer was to bless the people of Israel.
Here are some ways to translate this implicit information:
• Leave it implicit.
• Leave it implicit in the translation but provide the information in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
Balaam blessed the people of Israel instead of cursing them.
• Make it explicit in the translation. For example:
and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead (New Living Translation (2004))
Balaam son of Beor: Balaam son of Beor was a prophet (not an Israelite). He hired out his services to others for personal gain. For more information about him, see Numbers 22–24, 2 Peter 2:15–16.
answered: In Hebrew, this phrase means “answered,” “replied,” or “responded.”
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
how Balaam son of Beor responded to him (NET Bible)
-or-
what Balaam son of Beor said to him (Contemporary English Version)
6:5c
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal: In Hebrew, this is a clause with no verbs. It is more literally “from (the) Shittim to (the) Gilgal.” Most versions supply additional words such as “and what happened” in order to make the translation sound more natural.
This clause is probably a reference to the people’s journey from Shittim to Gilgal. It is another event from Israel’s history that the LORD wanted the people to remember. Consider placing a cross-reference here to Joshua 3–4.
The miraculous crossing of the Jordan river is probably the main event that the LORD referred to here. Some versions make this referent explicit. For example:
consider the crossing from Shittim to Gilgal (Revised English Bible)
However, it is possible that the reference is both to the crossing of the Jordan river and to other events as well. Most versions translate this clause in a way that leaves the specific events implicit. The Berean Standard Bible above is one example. Here is another example:
[Recall your passage]
From Shittim to Gilgal (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
Shittim: Shittim was a location on the east bank of the Jordan river. The people of Israel camped there before they crossed the river.
Gilgal: Gilgal was a location on the west bank of the Jordan river. It was the first place they camped in the promised land after they crossed the river.
6:5d
so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD: The LORD wanted the people to remember the events described in 5a–c so that they would know what he did for their benefit.
These actions show that he kept his promise to care for them. In this lawsuit/trial, these actions were evidence that he had done no wrong to them. The people’s complaints against the LORD in 6:3 had no merit.
so that: These words may introduce a reason/purpose or a result.
The first example below introduces the clause as purpose/reason. The second example implicitly introduces the clause as result:
so that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
and ⌊as a result⌋ you will realize what I did in order to save you
In this context there is only a slight difference in meaning between purpose/reason and result, and each implies the other. Translate this word in a way that is natural in your language.
you may acknowledge: This phrase is literally “to know.” Most versions supply a phrase such as you may or “you might” as natural ways to introduce a result or a purpose clause in English. Here the phrase you may or “you might” does not indicate permission or uncertainty.
In Hebrew, the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as acknowledge has more than one meaning related to knowing, experiencing, and understanding. In this context, the word may have more than one aspect of meaning.
The following examples are all acceptable ways to translate this phrase:
for you to know (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
And you will recognize (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
and you will realize (Good News Translation)
the righteousness of the LORD: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “the righteousness(es) of Yahweh.” The righteousness(es) of the LORD were his actions that were faithful to the terms of his covenant with the people of Israel.
The LORD showed his righteousness by saving his people. Some versions make this connection between his righteousness and his saving acts explicit. For example, the New Revised Standard Version and some other versions translate “the righteousness(es) of Yahweh” as “the saving acts of the LORD” or something similar.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
…the Lord has treated you fairly.” (NET Bible)
-or-
…the Lord does what is right.” (New Century Version)
the LORD: Here the LORD referred to himself using third person, the LORD. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a first-person form or a combination of first- and third-person forms. For example:
…what I did in order to save you.” (Good News Translation)
-or-
…when I, the Lord , did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” (New Living Translation (2004))
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