Jephthah continues his justification to the Ephraimites. He concentrates on his own role in these events, and uses lots of words. This may be another indication that he is making this up, and by his many words, trying to divert the Ephraimites.
And when I saw that you would not deliver me: Jephthah repeats what he just said to insist on his version of the facts: He asked for the Ephraimites’ help, but they refused to come help their brothers in their fight against the Ammonite enemies. This is the excuse Jephthah gives the Ephraimites to justify attacking Ammon without them, though there is real doubt about the truth of this comment. Tribal jealousy and questions of honor and shame seem to lie behind this entire incident. This clause is an independent one in Hebrew, which is literally “And I saw that you were not a deliverer.” The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “So” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation). Saw here means “realized” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation) or “understood.” Deliver renders a participle of the same Hebrew verb used in the previous verse. To preserve the literary flavor, translators should be consistent in the verb used.
I took my life in my hand is quite a literal rendering of the Hebrew, which means Jephthah risked his own life by attacking Ammon. He is trying to put the blame on his accusers by implying that they abandoned him and put his life in danger. The keyword hand occurs yet again, but with a different meaning from the other uses in this book. Hand also does not render the usual Hebrew word for it. The word here refers specifically to the “palm” of the hand (see verse 6.13). Languages will certainly have idiomatic ways to express this clause, for example, “I risked my life” (Good News Translation).
And crossed over against the Ammonites: The Hebrew verb rendered crossed over is the same one used in verse 12.1 (see comments there). In this context Good News Translation and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible interpret the verb to mean crossing a border between two peoples, but many versions rather say “advanced” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “attacked” (Contemporary English Version), or “marched” (Revised English Bible).
And the LORD gave them into my hand: For this key expression, see verse 1.2. Although the Ephraimites did not come to help Jephthah, he announces to them that it was Yahweh who gave him victory over the Ammonites. At least this part of Jephthah’s long speech is true! Of course, my hand includes Jephthah and the people of Gilead. They all were victorious because of the LORD’s help.
Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?: This rhetorical question points out that the Ephraimites have no valid reason for threatening to attack Jephthah and his men. Jephthah argues that since the Ephraimites rejected his call for help and Yahweh himself gave him victory, they have no right to threaten him. This rhetorical question mirrors that of the Ephraimites in verse 12.1. Why then is literally “and for what.” For the key Hebrew verb rendered come up (ʿalah), see verse 1.1, where it is translated “go up.” In this context it has its military meaning of “attack.” This day may be rendered “today” (Contemporary English Version), “now” (Good News Translation), or “at this time.” Once again Jephthah personalizes his role in the conflict by using the pronoun me. He claims the Ephraimites are attacking him personally. It is obvious to readers and listeners that Jephthah is bluffing and building himself up in this war of words. As elsewhere, translators may render this rhetorical question as a strong statement by saying “You have no right to come here today to attack me!”
Translation models for this verse are:
• So when I realized that you wouldn’t come to rescue me, I risked my own life and went to war against the Ammonites, and Yahweh gave me victory over them. So you have no reason [whatsoever] to threaten me now!”
• When I saw that you weren’t going to come and save me, I risked my life and attacked the Ammonites, and the LORD allowed me to defeat them. How dare you come here to fight against me!”
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 .