The story of horror continues. The Levite, cold and uncaring, seems totally unaware of his wife’s condition. This verse begins with a waw conjunction in Hebrew, omitted by the majority of versions, including Revised Standard Version. But some languages might use a sequential “And,” “Then,” or even possibly “So.” Translators should read the text out loud and see what transition is most natural in their language.

He said to her, “Get up, let us be going”: Instead of seeing his wife’s distress, the Levite seems angry, ashamed, or disgusted. In his culture of honor and shame it is likely he does not want to lose face. Seeing her lying in the doorway, he tells her to Get up, which renders the Hebrew verb qum. Once again, this word has a great significance and conveys great irony, as the word used for the delivers of Israel arising to save Israel is used here to portray its great downfall. The political situation is in chaos, the social structure is falling apart, and the interpersonal relationships are clearly at an all-time low. This husband has no pity for his wife. Translators need to render the text as it stands, and let the readers draw their own conclusions. Let us be going is probably pronounced with a harsh tone, so translators might say “Let’s go!” (New Living Translation) or “We have to go!” If at all possible, direct speech should be used here, since this is a high point in the episode.

But there was no answer: This impersonal statement reflects the sadness of the situation. Instead of saying “But she did not answer,” the text says literally “And there was no answering.” Since a response is expected and not forthcoming, But is a good rendering of the Hebrew waw conjunction here. The woman did not move nor did she say anything. In some languages there are even shorter ways of conveying this idea. For example, translators might say “He said to her, ‘Get up! Let’s go!’ No reaction [or Nothing/Zero]!” Contemporary English Version tries to convey some of the drama: “ ‘Get up!’ he said. ‘It’s time to leave.’ But his wife didn’t move.” The narrator does not say she was dead, but the audience already knows this to be true. It is hard to know if this is part of the narrator’s way of drawing out the suspense until 19.29 when it becomes clear she is dead.

Then he put her upon the ass: The Levite’s lack of feeling is once again revealed, as he apparently shows no reaction. He simply picks up his wife’s body and puts it on one of the donkeys. This clause is literally “and he took her on the donkey.” The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered Then might also be translated “So” (New Living Translation, Revised English Bible). Put renders the Hebrew verb laqach meaning “take,” which has been used in this book for stealing (verse 17.2), for marriage (verse 19.1), and so on. Here it has the sense of “placed” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “lifted” (Revised English Bible). We might say “So he picked her up and put her on the donkey.” Translators should avoid using any verb that might convey “placed with care.” Nothing in the Hebrew suggests he was dealing with her body gently. The sketchiness in the details here emphasizes the horror of the situation. Since the narrator does not say the woman was dead, some versions try to make this clear. For example, Good News Translation says “So he put her body across the donkey,” and Contemporary English Version has “He lifted her body onto his donkey.” For ass see verse 1.14. Here in Hebrew the word ass is preceded by the definite article, referring certainly to one of the donkeys he had brought from his home (verse 19.3).

And the man rose up and went away to his home: As if nothing special had happened, the Levite went back home. The initial Hebrew waw conjunction rendered and introduces the next action, so it can be translated “then” or be omitted, depending on what is natural in the target language. Here the repetitive phrase the man underlines the impersonal nature of this scene. Some languages will prefer a pronoun here. Rose up renders the same key Hebrew verb (qum) translated Get up, here referring to the beginning of a journey. If at all possible, translators should try to maintain this word, so the irony as well as the literary links within the book can be clearly seen. Went renders the common Hebrew verb meaning “go.” To his home is literally “to his place.” Though Levites owned no land, they apparently could own houses. We might say “Then he arose and returned home [or, headed home].”

Translation models for this verse are:

• He said to her, “Get up! Let’s go!” But she didn’t move, so he picked her up and put her on the donkey and set off for home.

• He said to her, “Get up! We have to leave!” But there was no response. So he placed her body on the donkey and left for home.

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 .