complete verse (Judges 9:34)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 9:34:

  • Kupsabiny: “And in the night, Abimelech went with his soldiers. He distributed/divided those brave soldiers into four groups and surrounded Shechem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Abimelech and his men got up in the night and forming four groups waited to do the attack on Shechem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “By-night, Abimelec and his men set-out. They grouped into four groups and hid just outside Shekem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They divided into four groups, and hid in the fields near Shechem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Judges 9:34

In typical Hebrew fashion many of the words Zebul used to help Abimelech plan his attack (verse 9.32) are repeated here to show that Abimelech acted according to this plan.

And Abimelech and all the men that were with him rose up by night: Abimelech and his men set off under cover of darkness. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And introduces a consequence of Zebul’s instructions and thus may be translated “So” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). All the men that were with him is literally “all the people who [were] with him” (see verse 9.32). The key Hebrew verb qum rendered rose up reappears here (see verse 9.32). As directed, Abimelech and his men came by night.

And laid wait against Shechem in four companies describes the ambush set against the city. For laid wait, see verse 9.32. Abimelech’s father, Gideon, divided his small number of troops into three groups, while Abimelech divides his men into four companies. The Hebrew word for companies is literally “heads,” which sometimes designates groups of soldiers (verse 1 Sam 11.11).

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Judges 9:34

9:34a So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night

So that night Abimelek and all his soldiers went
-or-
⌊When⌋ Abimelek ⌊received this message,⌋ he and all his troops started to go ⌊to Shechem town⌋ that night.

9:34b and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

to Shechem town and hid outside the town in four groups.
-or-
He divided his soldiers into four groups and they hid near the town.

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