And the three companies blew the trumpets …: This verse seems to be a summary statement, since first Gideon’s group was to give the signal and the other two groups were to follow. Here it says all three groups did the same thing. We might begin with “All three groups….” For companies see verse 7.16; for blew the trumpets, see verse 7.18.

And broke the jars: Broke renders a different Hebrew verb than the one translated “smashed” in verse 7.19. The verb here can refer to breaking different kinds of items, including gateposts, bones, idols and tablets, so if possible, another verb can be used, for example, “shattered” or broke.

Holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow is literally “and they held in hand of their left the torches, and in hand of their right, the trumpets to blow.” These clauses are independent in Hebrew, but Revised Standard Version renders them as subordinate. The focus is once again on the word hand, this time with specific mention of the left and right hands. Even though Hebrew uses the singular word “hand” both times, Revised Standard Version chooses the plural hands for naturalness in English. In Hebrew the order left–right is more common in poetic texts than narrative ones, where the usual order is right-left. Translators may want to adjust the order according to the preferences in their language. In this episode the right hand holds the trumpet, which gives out the war cry and later celebrates the victory. The left hand smashes the jar. Certainly it would take more skill to play the trumpet than to smash a jar, so this distribution makes practical sense. It is hard to know if there is some other significance here. Left and right play an important role in this book. For example, Ehud killed the pagan king Eglon by plunging a knife held in his left hand into the king’s abdomen (verse 3.21).

Breaking the jars meant that the torches would suddenly be seen all around (see comments on verse 7.16). Broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches may be rendered “smashed the jars in their left hands to expose the torches.” Contemporary English Version renders the first sentence of this verse as “The rest of Gideon’s soldiers blew the trumpets they were holding in their right hands. Then they smashed the jars and held the burning torches in their left hands.”

And they cried is literally “and they called.” The pronoun they refers to all three groups of Israelite soldiers. Cried may be rendered “shouted” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible).

A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!: Though some versions leave the word sword out, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives an {A} rating to the reading that includes it. This is another battle cry, but not identical to the one in verse 7.18 (see comments there). When the Midianite soldier interpreted his comrade’s dream, he too spoke of a sword (see verse 7.14). There this word seemed to represent war in general or the specific attack of Gideon. Indeed, this may be its meaning here, since the Israelites did not have swords in their hands at this moment, but only trumpets and torches. Possible renderings for this battle cry might be “Let’s attack for the LORD and for Gideon” and “Fight to honor Yahweh and Gideon.” However, it seems better to retain the word sword, which is a link back to the previous episode.

Some translation models for this verse are:

• All three groups of Israelites held their trumpets in their right hands and blew them. At the same time they smashed the jars in their left hands, exposing the torches. Then they cried out in a loud voice, saying, “A sword for Yahweh and for Gideon!”

• In each of the three groups, the Israelite warriors blew their trumpets in their right hands, and smashed the jars in their left hands. Then their torches shone and they called out, “We fight for the LORD and for Gideon!”

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 .