As noted in the comments on verse 8.29, here is the second conclusion of the story of Gideon, telling of his death and burial in a formal way.

And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age: And renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which is omitted by many versions. This verse is a kind of concluding statement, so a good rendering of this conjunction might be “Now.” Gideon is mentioned here by his complete name, Gideon the son of Joash. Hebrew often uses a complete name at the death of an important character (compare verse 2.8; verse 3.11). Died renders the common Hebrew verb for dying. However, translators may use a euphemism such as “passed away” if it is more natural. Died in a good old age renders a Hebrew expression that is first used for the patriarch Abraham (Gen 15.15), implying he died of “natural causes.” In that culture and most cultures today, living many years is a sign of God’s blessing. In modern English died in a good old age may be rendered “lived to a ripe old age and then died.” Translators should look for idiomatic expressions to convey the idea here.

And was buried in the tomb of Joash his father: Burial in family tombs was a common practice, and here Gideon was placed in the tomb of his father. Like old age, this too was considered a blessing (see Gen 50.5). Was buried renders an agentless passive verb in Hebrew, but many languages will need to say “they buried him.” The Hebrew noun for tomb comes from the same root as the verb rendered was buried. People were often buried in a cave or a tomb dug out of rocks in the side of a mountain.

At Ophrah of the Abiezrites: See verse 6.11. Like other heroes, Gideon was buried in his hometown (compare verse 2.9). This phrase closes the inclusio around the story of Gideon. It is also a typical way to end up a literary unit, with the citing of the town of origin of the deceased.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Now Gideon, the son of Joash, lived to a ripe old age and then he died. He was buried in his father’s tomb in Ophrah, home of the Abiezer clan.

• Finally, having lived many long years, Gideon, the son of Joash, died and was buried in his father’s tomb in his hometown of Ophrah in Abiezrite territory.

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 .