And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another: Since this verse gives the reaction of Gilead’s leaders to the Ammonite invasion, the Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “So.” Many versions omit it (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). The people, the leaders of Gilead is a somewhat awkward rendering and might be incorrect. Good News Translation thinks these two phrases refers to two groups: the people and the leaders. However, it is more likely that the second phrase (the leaders of Gilead) fills out or completes the first one (the people). So New International Version says “The leaders of the people of Gilead” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation). Leaders renders the Hebrew word sar (see verse 4.2, where it is translated “commander”). Leaders may be rendered “commanders” (New Revised Standard Version) or “officers” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Said to one another is literally “said … man to his neighbor/comrade.” Contemporary English Version has “asked each other,” which is a good model since a question follows.

Who is the man that will begin to fight against the Ammonites?: This question is a rather literal rendering of the Hebrew. The Israelites search for a leader to lead them into battle. We might simply say “Who will begin to fight…?” There are various interpretations possible here. Some scholars believe this is real question, while others consider it rhetorical, as the leaders wonder, “Who in the world will lead us to fight…?” Others take it as a relative clause. For example, New International Version says “Whoever will launch the attack…” (similarly Revised English Bible, New American Bible). Begin to fight has the sense of leading the people into battle. For the Hebrew verb rendered fight (lacham), see verse 1.1.

He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead: The interpretations of this clause vary. It could be an affirmation (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) or a wish (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). If it is a wish, it may be rendered “Let him be head…,” which makes sense in this context. Be head is literally “be as head,” which may be translated “serve as head” or simply “lead.” Head designates the “chief” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “leader” (Good News Translation) of the people. This metaphorical use of head is very common throughout the Old Testament. All the inhabitants of Gilead may be rendered “all who live in Gilead.” Since it is the leaders of Gilead who are speaking, another possible model is “all of us who live in Gilead.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• The leaders of [the people of] Gilead said to one another, “Whoever leads us into battle against the Ammonites will become the head of all of us who live in Gilead.”

• The leaders of Gilead asked each other, “Who will lead us into battle against the Ammonites? Let that person become the leader of all Gilead!”

This verse introduces a variant on the judges’ scenario. In the past God sent a judge or deliverer. Here the leaders of Gilead are taking matters into their own hands.

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 .