The song now takes another turn, as others who were brave enough to move out to help their brothers are congratulated. Here in Hebrew there is no conjunction to show this abrupt contrast, but it is precisely the absence of such a word that shows there is a break here. Some languages may be like Hebrew, but many others will need to mark this turning point by using a strong contrastive conjunction such as “But” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Zebulun is a people that jeoparded their lives to the death: The people of Zebulun risked their lives to protect and defend their brothers. For Zebulun see verse 1.30 and verse 5.14. Hebrew does not have the verb is, but in translation adding it is certainly justified. The reference to people seems significant since the Hebrew term here (ʿam) is one that often speaks of Israel as a whole (see comments on verse 2.4). But several versions render this word in context as “soldiers” (Contemporary English Version) or “men” ( NET Bible). We might begin this line with “But as for the tribe of Zebulun, here is a people who….” Jeoparded their lives to the death is an unusual phrase in English, rendering a Hebrew idiom that is literally “reproached his life to die.” The soldiers from Zebulun were willing to risk death in order to support Deborah and the other Israelites who went out to fight. Many languages will have a fixed expression to describe this level of bravery and commitment: “risked their lives” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), “risked death,” or “braved death” (New Jerusalem Bible). New Revised Standard Version says “scorned death,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “mocked at death.” Translators can use idiomatic expressions in their language to express the idea here.

Naphtali too, on the heights of the field: This line has an ellipsis, since the verb phrase jeoparded their lives to the death in the previous line is to be understood here. Naphtali too is literally “and Naphtali.” We could begin with “The people of Naphtali also risked their lives….” For Naphtali see verse 1.33. On the heights of the field tells where the action happened. This phrase may refer to the location of the battle for Naphtali alone or for both Zebulun and Naphtali. The Hebrew phrase rendered on the heights refers to a high place, possibly on top of mountains. In battles it is advantageous to be on a higher place to see and ward off attacks. Higher places are also easier to defend. The further specification of the field is somewhat odd, since fields are usually not located on the heights. The Hebrew word for field usually refers to an open space, but here it seems to refer to the battleground. New American Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh render this whole phrase as “on the open heights,” and Good News Translation says “on the battlefield.” If the battle were in the open, as several versions suggest (New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), this would demand great courage, as the Israelites would be exposed to great danger. Contemporary English Version omits this phrase, but it should be included in the translation.

Some versions combine the two lines of this verse as in Good News Translation: “But the people of Zebulun and Naphtali risked their lives on the battlefield.” However, this rendering robs the lines of their rhythm. We might say:

• But the people of Zebulun risked their very lives.
The warriors of Naphtali too,
battling on the open heights.

• The warriors of Zebulun and Naphtali risked death,
on the towering heights of the battlefield.

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 .