This verse, which describes what the Israelites did to the soldiers of Benjamin, is full of textual problems. It also is somewhat unique from a grammatical point of view, since none of the clauses are introduced by the Hebrew waw conjunction, which figures so prominently throughout this book.
Cutting down the Benjaminites renders the Greek Septuagint. The Hebrew has “They surrounded Benjamin.” Many English versions follow the Hebrew rather than the ver Septuagintver*, saying “They surrounded the Benjamites” (New International Version; similarly New American Bible), “They encircled the Benjaminites” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “They hemmed in the Benjaminites” (New Jerusalem Bible; similarly Revised English Bible). The Hebrew text make good sense in this context. However, translators may follow the ver Septuagintver* if they prefer, but a footnote should be added to give the Hebrew text. If the ver Septuagintver* reading is followed, it may make more sense to reverse this clause and the next one, with the pursuit preceding the Cutting down.
They pursued them and trod them down from Nohah: For pursued see verse 1.6. They pursued them means the Israelites chased the Benjaminites. In Hebrew this clause is followed by a word (menuchah) that can modify it or the next clause. This word can mean “[with] ease” or “[without] resting.” Good News Translation attaches this word to this clause, saying “without stopping they pursued them,” and so does New Jerusalem Bible with “pursued them relentlessly.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project associates this word with the following clause, saying “[from their] resting place they trod them down.” New International Version is similar with “easily overran them.” Instead of using the Hebrew word meaning “easily” or “relentlessly,” Revised Standard Version follows some of the Septuagint manuscripts here by saying from Nohah. Nohah, which means “resting place,” is the name of one of Benjamin’s sons (verse 1 Chr 8.2) and is perhaps the name of the town he founded, so the ver Septuagintver* reading makes sense in this context. Translators may follow either reading here, but should add a footnote if they choose to follow the ver Septuagintver* rather than the Hebrew text.
The Hebrew verb rendered trod … down can refer to trampling grapes to remove their juice (see verse 9.27), but it also is used in military contexts (see verse 5.21, where it is translated “March on”). Here it refers to “trampling,” that is, defeating or subjugating, an enemy. In light of what follows (verse 20.44), many of these people were killed. Thus Revised English Bible‘s “overtook” seems weak. New Jerusalem Bible is better with “crushing.” There is a play on words here, since the Hebrew root for trod … down is related to the root for “direction” (literally “road”) in the previous verse.
As far as opposite Gibe-ah on the east is literally “until in front of the Gibeah from [the] rising of [the] sun.” This phrase could apply to all three verbs in this verse, but logically, it is best attached to the verb pursued. Good News Translation follows this interpretation with “they pursued them as far as a point to the east of Gibeah.” In Hebrew the place name Gibe-ah is preceded by the definite article “the,” which seems of little consequence for the translation. For east see the comments on verse 1.9 and verse 11.18.
Translation models for this verse are:
• They surrounded and pursued the Benjaminites and crushed them completely, all the way from Nohah* to Gibeah in the east.
* The Septuagint reads “from Nohah.” The Hebrew has “[from their] resting place.”
• They surrounded and pursued the Benjaminites relentlessly all the way to the other side of Gibeah on the east, crushing them completely.
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 .