And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim: And, which renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, introduces an additional act by Israel’s enemies. Contemporary English Version uses the connector “Then,” but many versions leave this conjunction untranslated (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version). The Ammonites, who lived on the east side of Jordan, crossed the river to attack the Israelites on the other side. In addition to Gilead, the Ammonites also attacked deeper into Israelite territory, which Good News Translation expresses as “even.” We may also say “as well” or “additionally.” The text is emphatic here with the repetition of the Hebrew preposition b- (against). The enemy attack against the Israelites became widespread, affecting Judah (verse 1.2), Benjamin (verse 1.21), and Ephraim (verse 1.29). As elsewhere, these names refer to tribal groups, not to individuals. The house of Ephraim refers to the members of this tribe. Good News Translation provides a helpful model: “The Ammonites even crossed the Jordan to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.”

So that Israel was sorely distressed: This is an independent clause in Hebrew, which is literally “and it was very cramped for Israel.” Revised Standard Version has opted for a result clause, rendering the Hebrew waw conjunction as so that to introduce the result of what happened under Ammonite oppression. Good News Translation keeps an independent clause here. For the Hebrew phrase rendered was sorely distressed, see verse 2.15, where it is translated “were in sore straits.” Contemporary English Version gives a very dynamic rendering here, saying “Life was miserable for the Israelites.”

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 .