Now the surprise attack takes place. Two groups of Israelite soldiers need to be distinguished here: all the men of Israel composed the main army, and the men of Israel who were in ambush were those who hid in ambush.

And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “Then” or “So” (Good News Translation) in this context. All the men of Israel is literally “every man of Israel.” This phrase does not refer to every single Israelite male, but to the majority of the Israelite soldiers, that is, those who did not hide in ambush. This phrase may be translated “the main body of the Israelite army.” The Hebrew verb rendered rose up (qum) once again plays a very important role, as it has throughout this book (see comments on verse 2.16). Finally in this section, the people of Israel rose up, as the judges of the past had done, to defeat their enemies. However, the irony here is that they rose up against their own flesh and blood (compare verse 9.34). The action here seems to be one of pulling back (Good News Translation) or pretending to flee. But if at all possible, the same verb used in other key places should be used here to preserve this important literary feature. Out of their place (literally “from his place”) refers to the place where they first lined up to fight. We may say “from their places.” Good News Translation leaves this phrase implied, which other languages may find helpful.

And set themselves in array at Baal-tamar: For the Hebrew verb rendered set themselves in array, see the comments on verse 20.30. The town of Baal-tamar is mentioned only here in the Old Testament. Its location is unknown, but it must have been somewhere near Gibeah. The name Baal-tamar means “master of the date palm.”

And the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place west of Geba: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered and introduces a simultaneous action here. There were two groups with two activities going on at the same time. Most of the Israelite soldiers were retreating to Baal-tamar while those who were lying in ambush came rushing out of their hiding places. Thus this conjunction may be rendered “while” (New Revised Standard Version) or “at the same time.” The men of Israel who were in ambush is literally “the ambusher of Israel,” which should be rendered in this context as a plural, for example, “the Israelite ambushers” or “the Israelites who were lying in ambush.” While the Hebrew verb rendered rushed usually describes water that rushes, here it describes people bursting out of a place. In Hebrew this verb is a participle, which indicates it is a simultaneous action. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “was rushing out,” and New International Version has “charged out.” Out of their place renders the same Hebrew phrase used in the previous sentence. The repetition here may emphasize how well organized the Israelites were this time. In this context it may be translated “out of their hiding place” or “from the position where they were hiding.”

Instead of west of Geba, the Hebrew text has “from the bare space [or, open plain] of Geba,” which New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh transliterates as “Maareh-geba.” The Hebrew word for “bare space” is close to one that means “cave,” which may explain Good News Translation‘s rendering “in the rocky country around the city.” Geba was a town belonging to the Levites in the territory of Benjamin (see verse 21.17). The Septuagint has “west of Gibeah.” Though Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives a {B} rating to “from the exposed point of Geba,” many versions follow the ver Septuagintver* here (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). Translators may follow either reading, giving the alternative in a footnote.

Translation models for this verse are:

• So all those Israelites fled and positioned themselves at a place called Baal-tamar. At the same time the Israelites who were waiting in ambush rushed out of their hiding place west of Gibeah.*
* “West of Gibeah” is the translation of the Septuagint. The Hebrew has “from the bare plain of Geba.” Geba was a town in the territory of Benjamin.

• So the main Israelite army withdrew and arranged themselves at the town of Baal-tamar, while the ambushers rushed out from their hiding place west of Geba.

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 .