This summary statement of the Israelite victory is expressed in repetitive and rhythmic language. The Hebrew word for “man” (ʾish) occurs three times and the word for “all” or “every” twice. This underlines the total defeat of the Moabite army.

And they killed at that time about ten thousand of the Moabites is literally “And they killed Moab at that time about ten thousand man.” The Hebrew waw conjunction at the beginning of this clause can be rendered And, “Now,” or “So.” The pronoun they refers to Ehud and his army. Killed (literally “struck”) renders the same Hebrew verb translated “defeated” in verse 1.4. At that time is a typical phrase in such a summary or concluding statement. Good News Translation‘s “That day” seems too restrictive. Contemporary English Version prefers a longer temporal phrase: “before the fighting was over.” However, in many languages an initial temporal phrase, such as “At that time” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version) or “On that occasion” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), will be more natural.

For the number ten thousand, see verse 1.4. This figure indicates an overwhelming victory. If the number ten thousand is complicated in the target language, other expressions can be used, such as “thousands upon thousands,” “a huge number,” and “so many they could not count.” Translators can also use the figure “10,000” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Revised Standard Version renders the singular “Moab” as a plural Moabites and presents a more natural word order in English. We might say “At that time Ehud and his men attacked the Moabite army, killing about ten thousand men.”

All strong, able-bodied men describes the Moabite soldiers. Similar phrases occur several times throughout this book, especially in the appendices (for example, verse 18.2, 26; verse 20.44, 46; verse 21.10). There is a reason for praising the strength of the enemy, since the stronger the enemy, the greater the Israelite victory! The Moabite army they defeated was not made up of weaklings but of strong and courageous men. All strong renders a literal “every [one] vigorous.” The Hebrew adjective for strong can also mean “fat,” “rich,” or even “fertile” (when describing land). Able-bodied men is literally “every [one] a man of might.” The Hebrew word for “might” can mean “strength” or “courage.” Revised Standard Version focuses on their physical condition, but their courage may be in view also. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh gives a wider rendering here: “they were all robust and brave men,” which is a good model. Good News Translation‘s “the best … soldiers” is perhaps not specific enough. Contemporary English Version reduces the whole description to “warriors,” which loses a great deal of the meaning and impact of this phrase.

Not a man escaped is literally “and not escaped a man.” This clause begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction, and might be rendered “And not a one escaped.” In Hebrew the word for man occurs at the end for emphasis. This may be hyperbole or exaggeration, but the point is that Israel’s victory was complete over this very powerful people. The Hebrew verb rendered escaped is the same one used to describe Ehud’s escape (verse 3.26), and it rounds out the inclusio here. There is strong language here, as Ehud was able to “pass over” and “escape,” but the Moabites are not allowed to do so. Translators should try to express this emphasis by saying “not one [Moabite] soldier survived,” “not a single one was left alive,” or “no one was allowed to escape.”

Some examples for translating this verse are:

• On that occasion the Israelites killed 10,000 of Moab’s soldiers, all of them strong and courageous. Not a man escaped alive.

• So at that time the Israelites killed countless Moabite soldiers, all of them strong and brave. Not one of them escaped.

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 .