Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle …: Then, which renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, may give the mistaken idea that the action here happened immediately after the events recounted in verse 8.12. Obviously there is a time gap, since Gideon is now on his way home. Contemporary English Version and New Jerusalem Bible begin with “After the battle,” which is a better transition. The mention of the full name Gideon the son of Joash shows that a new episode is beginning, so most versions have a paragraph break here. Though many modern versions leave out the phrase the son of Joash (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), keeping it is a good way to begin a new literary unit in many languages, as in Hebrew. Returned renders the key Hebrew verb shuv once again (see verse 2.19). Here it means that Gideon is returning home. Contemporary English Version says “set out for home.” Battle renders the same Hebrew word translated “war” in verse 3.1. We could say “was returning from the war.”

By the ascent of Heres: This return route is different from the one Gideon took on his way to the battle (verse 8.11). This new route may be a shortcut. The ascent of Heres refers to a mountain pass, though its location is unknown. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version call the place “Heres Pass.” For ascent see the comments on verse 1.36.

Translation models for this verse are:

• After the battle Gideon and his men started to return home, passing through the mountains at a place called Heres.

• On his way back from the war Gideon the son of Joash went through Heres Pass.

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 .