In verse 2.12 the Israelites’ actions “provoked” the LORD’s anger. This verse expresses the same idea from another perspective. Then the narrator spells out the serious consequences of the LORD’s anger.

So renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which introduces for the second time the LORD’s response to the Israelites’ acts. Good News Translation says “And so.” These conjunctions seem more appropriate than a time-oriented one, such as “Then” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel: Though this clause repeats the information in verse 2.12, it is much more intense. The text is literally “the nose of Yahweh heated up [or, burned] against Israel.” Along with Revised Standard Version, there are many good models that catch the spirit of this expression, for example, “Yahweh’s anger grew hot against Israel” (New Jerusalem Bible), “the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel” (New American Bible), and “the LORD was incensed at Israel” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Many languages use figurative language involving fire or heat when speaking of anger, and translators can use such expressions here. If such idiomatic expressions do not exist, the translator can simply describe what happened. For example, Good News Translation says “the LORD became furious with Israel,” which serves as a good example.

And he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them describes the result of God’s anger with his people. In the Old Testament God acts in the everyday affairs of the world, and in this case he punishes the Israelites by allowing their enemies to defeat them. Gave them over to (literally “gave them into the hand of”) is the same expression as in verse 1.4. Here possible renderings are “allowed/caused [raiders to raid them]” and “made it so that [raiders could raid them].” However, many languages, especially in Africa, have an idiom similar to the Hebrew one and say “gave into the hands of,” which can be used here. This is another case of the idiomatic use of the word “hand,” which is a prominent literary feature of this book (see comments on verse 1.2). If possible, translators should maintain its use. In English, for example, it is possible to say “handed them over to” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Plunderers, who plundered them is a very strong expression, where both the verb and the noun come from the same Hebrew root meaning “attack and rob something of value.” This term is often found in the context of plundering houses, when bands of attackers would enter with force and steal anything of value. Here it describes a serious attack on the people of Israel, involving the taking of spoils and stripping the nation of its wealth and power. Translators should look for ways to convey the idea of complete devastation. Some languages have a similar emphatic construction that can use the same verb form twice, for example, “and let raiders raid them.” Many languages, however, will prefer to use several different terms to communicate this emphasis. A good model is “and let raiders attack and rob them” (Good News Translation). Revised English Bible also uses several synonyms: “made them the prey of bands of raiders and plunderers.” Contemporary English Version‘s “he let other nations raid Israel and steal their crops and other possessions” perhaps goes too far in adding specific details that are not in the text.

Possible models for the first half of this verse are:

• So Yahweh’s anger burned against the Israelites. So he allowed their enemies to attack and rob them of everything.

• So the LORD was furious with the people of Israel and handed them over to the power of their enemies who took everything they had.

And he sold them into the power of their enemies round about is parallel to the preceding clause, speaking literally of selling them “into the hand of their enemies from around.” The expression “sell into the hand of” is very common in this book (verse 3.8; verse 4.2; verse 10.7) and the rest of the Old Testament, meaning to deliver someone into another person’s control. If “sold them into the hand of” is not natural, “gave/delivered them [into the hand of]” is another possibility. Once again “hand” represents power and control. Good News Translation has “He let the enemies all around overpower them,” which expresses the idea well.

There is a subtle shift here since the people the Israelites are fighting against are called enemies for the first time. In fact, this word is emphasized, appearing twice here. In the previous material the main focus was on the Canaanites. These enemies round about may have included peoples living outside Canaan, such as the Moabites and the Ammonites. Most translators will not have a problem finding a word for enemies, which renders a plural participle of the Hebrew verb meaning “be hostile.” Round about is the same expression as in verse 2.12, though here the circle may have been wider, including those other than Canaanites. Contemporary English Version is very dynamic here with “Enemies were everywhere,” which is a possible model.

So that they could no longer withstand their enemies: The result of this pressure from all sides is that the Israelites are dominated by their enemies. So that renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which may be translated “as a result” or simply “and” (Good News Translation). They could no longer withstand their enemies is literally “they could no longer stand before [or, in the face of] their enemies.” Not only could the Israelites not take the land they were commanded to invade and “possess,” but they also could not stand up against or resist the people they were fighting. Rather, those people overcame them! For withstand possible renderings are “resist” (New Jerusalem Bible), “stand [up] against” (Revised English Bible), and perhaps “defend themselves against.” The word enemies is repeated here for emphasis, and if possible, translators should express this focus in the Hebrew text. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh gives a good rendering, saying “they could no longer hold their own against their enemies.” Contemporary English Version takes another approach, translating this clause and the previous one as “Enemies were everywhere, and the LORD always let them defeat Israel in battle.”

Some suggestions for the translation of this last half of the verse are:

• Yahweh gave them over into the hands of the surrounding enemies, and the Israelites could do nothing to resist them.

• The LORD made Israel powerless before their enemies who came from all around. And the Israelites could no longer defend themselves against these enemies.

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 .