The narrator moves on to the account of another tribal group, the people of Benjamin. With this change of focus, many versions begin a new paragraph here. This is a crucial turning point since the narrator says nothing positive about this group, even if they did in fact enter Jerusalem. Benjamin was the last son of Rachel and Jacob (Gen 35.18) and his descendants composed the smallest tribe in Israel. They traditionally occupied the area to the north of Judah. Jerusalem was just inside their territory (see verse 18.28). Nothing positive is said here about this tribe, and this foreshadows the terrible events recounted at the end of the book.

But the people of Benjamin did not drive out …: But renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which signals contrast here. Unlike Caleb’s clan, the tribe of Benjamin is unsuccessful in driving out those they conquered. The people of Benjamin is literally “the sons/children of Benjamin,” and translators can use the same expression used to refer to the peoples of Judah, Simeon, and so forth. For did not drive out, see verse 1.19.

The Jebusites who dwelt in Jerusalem: This clause begins the verse in Hebrew, which is literally “But the Jebusite who inhabited Jerusalem, the sons of Benjamin did not dispossess.” The Hebrew singular expression for “the Jebusite” refers to a group. Translators can call them “the people of Jebus” or “the sons of Jebus.” These people were apparently Amorites. Who dwelt in renders a participle of the Hebrew verb meaning “inhabit” (see verse 1.9).

The city of Jerusalem was originally in the hands of the Jebusites. In later times it marked the border between the territories belonging to Benjamin and Judah. It was built on an important water source, the Gihon spring. The city was not completely in the hands of the Israelites until the time of David, who brought the Covenant Box to the city and made that city his capital (verse 2 Sam 6.15). King Solomon built the Temple there. The first attack on this town by the men of Judah is described in verse 1.8. Once again, the beginning of the book of Judges presents a summary of the invasion of Canaan, without providing a precise chronological history.

So the Jebusites have dwelt with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day: So is a good rendering of the Hebrew waw conjunction here, since it introduces the result of the incomplete victory of the Benjaminites. Have dwelt with renders the same Hebrew verb as earlier in the verse (see also verse 1.9). The notion of “dwelling with” is important here, as it means that the two groups lived side by side, influencing each other in many ways. As the rest of this narration will show, one of the areas most affected was the religious life of the community. This “cohabitation” probably also involved intermarriage.

In Jerusalem repeats the name of the city for the second time, and certainly emphasizes the city’s crucial place in Israel’s history.

To this day does not mean until this present day. It takes as a point of reference the narrator’s or editor’s time, that is, the time of this book’s composition. Translators need to ensure that modern readers understand that the situation is not the same today. Rather than speak specifically of this day, translators might say “until now” or “until the present time.”

This verse is repetitive, with two occurrences each of the words the people of Benjamin, the Jebusites, dwelt, and Jerusalem. The repetition underlines the unacceptability of the situation, especially in light of Jerusalem’s future role in Israel’s history. Despite this fact, not all languages will appreciate the repetition, so translators may reduce it if necessary.

Possible translation models for this verse are:

• But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of Jerusalem, so the two peoples have lived side by side till now.

• However, the Benjaminites were unable to chase the Jebusites out of the city of Jerusalem, so the two have lived together in the place till today.

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 .