Jerubbaal: that is, Gideon (see Judges 7.1, where Jerubbaal is identified as Gideon). On the giving of this name to Gideon and its meaning, see Judges 6.25-32. If “Gideon” is the better known name, translators may substitute that name here, as Good News Translation has done (so also Bible en français courant and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). If not, a footnote should be provided so that readers will be aware that the two names refer to the same person.
Barak was an Israelite hero and judge who fought with Deborah against Jabin, king of the Canaanite city of Hazor (Judges 4). The Masoretic Text has the name “Bedan,” who is not otherwise known in the Old Testament. One twelfth-century interpreter suggested that Bedan was an abbreviation for the Hebrew ben Dan (son of Dan), a reference to Samson, who was from the tribe of Dan (Judges 13–16). One of the judges in the Book of Judges is named Abdon (see Judges 12.13, 15). Since the consonants in the names “Bedan” and “Abdon” are the same in Hebrew, some versions read “Abdon” here in place of “Bedan” (so La Bible Pléiade). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives the Masoretic Text a {B} rating and recommends that the name Bedan be preserved in translation. Some translations (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Fox, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, andParola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) follow the Masoretic Text with regard to this proper noun, and that is the recommendation of this Handbook, since it is not certain that “Bedan” is another name for any other known person in the Bible. Many modern translations, however, follow the Septuagint and the Syriac version in reading Barak (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New International Version, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible). If translators follow the Masoretic Text in reading “Bedan,” they may wish to follow the example of Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and include a footnote stating that possibly Barak is meant.
The story of Jephthah is told in Judges 10.6–12.7. See especially 11.29.
Samuel: Samuel is the speaker (verse 6). In ordinary English style a speaker does not normally refer to himself by name, so Good News Translation changes the proper noun to the pronoun “me” (so also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Bible en français courant and La Bible du Semeur have “me, Samuel.” Instead of Samuel some Greek manuscripts have the name “Samson” here (so also New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, and New American Bible). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives the Masoretic Text an {A} rating. So the name Samuel should be retained in translation, or the pronoun “me” should be used.
The subject of the verb delivered is singular, referring back to the LORD. Good News Translation makes the judges themselves the subject of the verb: “Each of us rescued you.” But it is probably better to retain the third person singular subject referring back to Yahweh. Since Samuel is speaking, some may prefer to say “he used us to deliver you.”
The hand of your enemies: see verse 10.
You dwelt in safety: this expression means “you lived securely” (New International Version) or “you had no reason to fear.” Contemporary English Version attempts to convey the meaning with “you didn’t have to worry about being attacked.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .