Judah also took: Following the victory at Hormah, there is another military advance, this time toward the coastal region where the Philistines lived. In Hebrew the verse begins with the waw conjunction, which Revised Standard Version renders as also. “Then” would be a good transition word to express this sequence of events. For Judah see verse 1.2. For the Hebrew verb rendered took, see verse 1.8. Good News Translation combines 1.18-19, and following the Septuagint, adds the negative particle “not” to the verb, translating “Judah … did not capture,” but most versions follow the standard text here, which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives a {B} rating. New International Version marks the ver Septuagintver* reading in a footnote.

Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory: Three towns and their surrounding areas are conquered. Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron were all towns on the coastal plain belonging to the Philistines. Gaza with its territory refers to the surrounding countryside that was under the control of the leaders of Gaza and/or the farming area around this town. Its territory can be expressed as “the land/area/region around it.” The repetition of the expression with its territory emphasizes the extensive victory of the Israelites. Translators can keep the repetition if it is acceptable in their language, or use a less repetitive style. For example, New International Version says “The men of Judah also took Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron—each city with its territory.”

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 .