1
καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ἀφῆκεν κύριος αὐτὰ ὥστε πειράσαι ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν Ισραηλ πάντας τοὺς μὴ ἐγνωκότας τοὺς πολέμους Χανααν
And these are the nations that the LORD left, in order to test Israel by them — all those who had not known the wars of Canaan —
The cataphoric ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη ('these are the nations') is a presentational heading anticipating the list of v. 3; the construction picks up the leftover-nations theme of 2:21–23 and supplies the theological rationale (πειράσαι, 'to test') that governs the whole prologue. The relative clause ἃ ἀφῆκεν κύριος makes YHWH the explicit subject of the nations' survival.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative pronoun (predicate / subject of nominal clause)οὗτος: the neuter plural ταῦτα is cataphoric, pointing forward to the catalogue of nations enumerated in v. 3; the nominal clause ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη functions as a presentational heading, a common LXX device for opening a list or census.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsNominativepredicate nominative (subject of the nominal clause)ἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nation / people / gentiles'; renders גּוֹי; in Judges the ἔθνη are the Canaanite peoples YHWH deliberately leaves in the land; the term carries the prologue's theological freight — these nations are both threat and instrument.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative object of ἀφῆκεν)ὅς: the relative ἃ (acc. neut. pl.) is resumed pleonastically by αὐτά later in the clause, a Hebraism reproducing the resumptive pronoun of the Hebrew relative construction (אֲשֶׁר ... אֹתָם).
ἀφῆκενleft / let remainAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίημιmain verb of relative clause→ constative aorist (settled divine decision)ἀφίημι: 'leave / let go / permit to remain'; renders הִנִּיחַ; the verb makes YHWH the deliberate agent of the nations' survival — they are not a failure of conquest but a divine reservation for the testing of Israel (cf. 2:21–23).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀφῆκενκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject stresses that the retention of the nations is YHWH's sovereign act, the theological premise of the entire book of Judges.
αὐτὰthemAccusativeresumptive direct object (pleonastic, Hebraism)αὐτός: the pleonastic resumptive αὐτά reproduces the Hebrew object-suffix on the relative clause (אֲשֶׁר ... אֹתָם); such redundancy is a hallmark of the literalistic translation technique of the Judges B-text.
ὥστεso as / in orderconjunction introducing infinitival purpose/result clauseὥστε: 'so as to / in order to'; with the infinitive πειράσαι it expresses purpose here (the goal of leaving the nations), rendering the Hebrew infinitive construct with לְ; the purpose is explicitly pedagogical and probative.
πειράσαιto testAor Act Inf · πειράζωinfinitive of purpose (with ὥστε)πειράζω: 'test / try / put to the proof'; renders נִסָּה; the keyword of the prologue (cf. vv. 1, 4), framing the leftover nations as a divine examination of Israel's covenant fidelity rather than as mere military obstacle.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by means of them')ἐν + dat.: here instrumental, rendering the Hebrew בְּ of means; the nations are the instrument (ἐν αὐτοῖς) by which Israel is tested.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (instrumental)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of πειράσαι (indeclinable proper noun, articular)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX, here governed by the article τόν to mark its accusative function as the object of πειράσαι; Israel is the one being tested.
πάνταςallAccusativeadjective in apposition to Ισραηλ (defining the tested group)πᾶς: 'all / every'; the accusative πάντας τοὺς ... ἐγνωκότας delimits the group tested — specifically the new generation that had no experience of the conquest wars.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μὴnotnegative particle (with participle ἐγνωκότας)μή: the subjective/qualitative negative used with the participle; it characterizes the class ('those who had not come to know') rather than negating a fact, normal Greek usage with attributive participles.
ἐγνωκόταςhaving known / experiencedPerf Act Part Acc Masc Pl · γινώσκωsubstantival participle (object of πειράσαι, in apposition to Ισραηλ)→ resultative perfect (a settled state of inexperience)γινώσκω: 'know / experience / become acquainted with'; the perfect participle ἐγνωκότας denotes an enduring state — the new generation has no experiential acquaintance with the wars of conquest; hence the need to 'teach them war' (v. 2).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμουςwarsAccusativedirect object of ἐγνωκόταςπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; 'the wars of Canaan' are the conquest campaigns under Joshua; the theme of πόλεμος recurs at v. 2 (τοῦ διδάξαι αὐτοὺς πόλεμον) and v. 10 (ἐξῆλθεν εἰς πόλεμον).
ΧαναανCanaangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wars of Canaan')Χανααν: transliteration of כְּנַעַן; indeclinable in the LXX; here a genitive of place/relationship qualifying πολέμους ('the wars [fought in/over] Canaan').
2
πλὴν διὰ τὰς γενεὰς υἱῶν Ισραηλ τοῦ διδάξαι αὐτοὺς πόλεμον πλὴν οἱ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔγνωσαν αὐτά
only for the sake of the generations of the sons of Israel, to teach them war — only those before them had not known these things —
πλήν ('only / except') restricts and qualifies the rationale of v. 1: the nations were left specifically for the new generations, with the pedagogical aim τοῦ διδάξαι αὐτοὺς πόλεμον ('to teach them war'). The articular infinitive of purpose and the second πλήν, introducing a contrastive clarification about the earlier generation, make this verse a dense, somewhat awkward Hebraistic gloss on the leftover-nations theme.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
πλὴνonly / exceptrestrictive adverb/conjunctionπλήν: 'only / nevertheless / except'; renders רַק; here it restricts the scope of the divine purpose to a particular class (the new generations), narrowing the broad statement of v. 1.
διὰfor the sake ofpreposition + accusative (causal/purpose)διά + acc.: 'on account of / for the sake of'; here it marks the beneficiary-purpose: the nations were retained because of (for the benefit of) the inexperienced generations.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενεὰςgenerationsAccusativeaccusative object of διάγενεά: 'generation / lineage'; renders דּוֹר; the plural points to the successive generations of Israelites who, lacking conquest experience, require the schooling of war.
υἱῶνof (the) sonsGenitivegenitive (partitive/possessive: 'of the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; the phrase υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('sons of Israel') is the standard LXX designation of the covenant people, rendering בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; here in the genitive defining whose generations are in view.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱῶν)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τοῦthe (to)Genitivearticle with articular infinitive (genitive of purpose)ὁ (gen. τοῦ): the genitive article governing the infinitive διδάξαι forms an articular infinitive of purpose, the standard LXX rendering of the Hebrew infinitive construct with לְ.
διδάξαιto teachAor Act Inf · διδάσκωarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ διδάξαι)→ constative aorist infinitiveδιδάσκω: 'teach / instruct'; renders לִמֵּד; the striking phrase τοῦ διδάξαι αὐτοὺς πόλεμον ('to teach them war') frames warfare as a divinely intended discipline for a generation that had grown up in peace.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of διδάξαιαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πόλεμονwarAccusativesecond accusative (thing taught) with διδάξαιπόλεμος: 'war'; the object of instruction; διδάσκω here takes a double accusative (person + thing), a normal Greek construction reproducing the Hebrew double object of לִמֵּד.
πλὴνonlyrestrictive adverb (introducing contrastive clarification)πλήν: the repetition of πλήν is a Hebraistic feature of the B-text; here it introduces a parenthetical clarification contrasting the present generations with their predecessors who had known war firsthand.
οἱthoseNominativearticle substantivizing ἔμπροσθεν ('those before')ὁ: the article substantivizes the adverb ἔμπροσθεν into 'those before them' (the earlier generation), the subject of ἔγνωσαν.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / formeradverb substantivized by οἱ ('the former ones')ἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front / formerly'; here temporal, designating the prior generation (those before the present ones); the substantivized οἱ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν = the conquest generation.
αὐτῶνthem / theirGenitivegenitive (with ἔμπροσθεν: 'before them')αὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔγνωσαν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔγνωσανthey knewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb of the contrastive clause→ constative aoristγινώσκω: 'know / experience'; the awkward οὐκ ἔγνωσαν αὐτά ('did not know these things') is textually difficult in the B-text and seems to invert the expected sense; the clause underscores the generational discontinuity in experiential knowledge of war that the prologue addresses.
αὐτάthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of ἔγνωσαν (neuter plural: 'these matters')αὐτός: the neuter plural αὐτά refers back to the wars/matters of conquest; the resumptive construction is characteristic of the literalistic Judges translation.
3
τὰς πέντε σατραπείας τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ πάντα τὸν Χαναναῖον καὶ τὸν Σιδώνιον καὶ τὸν Ευαῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα τὸν Λίβανον ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ Αερμων ἕως Λαβωεμαθ
the five satrapies of the Philistines, and all the Canaanite, and the Sidonian, and the Hivite dwelling in Lebanon, from Mount Hermon to Labo-hamath.
The accusative list (governed by ἀφῆκεν of v. 1) itemizes the leftover nations: the five Philistine 'satrapies' (σατραπείας, an Achaemenid administrative term anachronistically rendering the Hebrew סַרְנֵי, the Philistine 'lords'), the Canaanite, the Sidonian, and the Hivite of Lebanon, with a geographical span from Hermon to Labo-hamath marking the ideal northern boundary.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέντεfiveindeclinable numeral (modifying σατραπείας)πέντε: 'five'; indeclinable cardinal; 'the five satrapies' corresponds to the five-city Philistine pentapolis (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, Ekron); the number is fixed in the tradition (cf. Josh 13:3; 1 Sam 6:16–18).
σατραπείαςsatrapies / lordshipsAccusativeaccusative (in apposition to / object governed by ἀφῆκεν of v. 1)σατραπεία: 'satrapy / governorship'; an Achaemenid Persian administrative term used to render the Hebrew סַרְנֵי, the title of the Philistine 'lords'; the choice reflects the translator's Hellenistic-Persian administrative vocabulary, an anachronistic but standard LXX equivalence (cf. Josh 13:3).
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνof the Philistines / foreignersGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'satrapies of the Philistines')ἀλλόφυλος: lit. 'of another tribe / foreign'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines') in Judges and Samuel; the gentilic-by-periphrasis emphasizes their alien, uncircumcised status; the same word recurs at v. 31 for Shamgar's victims.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάνταallAccusativeadjective (modifying τὸν Χαναναῖον)πᾶς: 'all'; the collective singular πάντα τὸν Χαναναῖον ('all the Canaanite') treats the people as a unified ethnic block, a Hebraism (כָּל הַכְּנַעֲנִי) common in conquest-lists.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with gentilic adjective)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναῖονCanaaniteAccusativeaccusative (object in the catalogue, collective singular)Χαναναῖος: gentilic adjective 'Canaanite', used substantively; renders הַכְּנַעֲנִי; declinable, hence the accusative case; the Canaanite heads the conventional list of the land's pre-Israelite peoples.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣιδώνιονSidonianAccusativeaccusative (collective gentilic in the catalogue)Σιδώνιος: 'Sidonian'; gentilic from Σιδών (Hebrew צִידוֹן); designates the Phoenician coastal population; here representing the northern Canaanite peoples not displaced by Israel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕυαῖονHiviteAccusativeaccusative (collective gentilic in the catalogue)Ευαῖος: 'Hivite'; renders הַחִוִּי; one of the standard pre-Israelite peoples of the land-lists; here localized in the Lebanon range by the following participial phrase.
τὸνthe (one)Accusativearticle (substantivizing the participle κατοικοῦντα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταdwellingPres Act Part Acc Masc Sg · κατοικέωattributive participle (modifying τὸν Ευαῖον)→ imperfective present (ongoing habitation)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit / settle'; renders יָשַׁב; the present participle marks the Hivite's settled, continuing occupation of the Lebanon; κατοικέω is a key verb of the prologue, recurring of Israel's own settling among the nations at v. 5.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛίβανονLebanonAccusativeaccusative of place (object of κατοικοῦντα: 'inhabiting Lebanon')Λίβανος: 'Lebanon' (the mountain range); declinable in the LXX, hence accusative; κατοικέω here takes a direct accusative of the place inhabited, a construction common in the LXX (cf. κατοικέω τὴν γῆν).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (spatial starting point)ἀπό: the construction ἀπὸ ... ἕως ('from ... to') marks the northern geographical extent of the Hivite/Canaanite territory.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόὄρος: 'mountain'; renders הַר; here 'Mount Hermon' as the northern boundary marker of the ideal land.
τοῦthe (of)Genitivearticle (with Αερμων, marking apposition/genitive)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑερμωνHermongenitive of apposition (indeclinable: 'Mount Hermon')Αερμων: transliteration of חֶרְמוֹן (Hermon); indeclinable; governed by the article τοῦ to mark its appositional genitive relation to ὄρους; Hermon is the conventional northeastern limit of the land.
ἕωςas far as / topreposition + genitive (spatial limit)ἕως: 'until / as far as'; completes the ἀπό ... ἕως span marking the territorial extent.
ΛαβωεμαθLabo-hamathgenitive object of ἕως (indeclinable place name)Λαβωεμαθ: transliteration of לְבוֹא חֲמָת ('the entrance of Hamath' / Lebo-hamath); the B-text reads the Hebrew phrase as a single indeclinable proper noun; it marks the ideal northern boundary of Israel's land (cf. Num 13:21; 34:8).
4
καὶ ἐγένετο ὥστε πειράσαι ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν Ισραηλ γνῶναι εἰ ἀκούσονται τὰς ἐντολὰς κυρίου ἃς ἐνετείλατο τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ
And it came about so as to test Israel by them, to know whether they would heed the commandments of the LORD that he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
The narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο (rendering וַיְהִי) reframes the leftover nations as an instrument of covenant-testing; the purpose is now made explicitly probative and ethical — γνῶναι εἰ ἀκούσονται ('to know whether they would obey') the Mosaic commandments. The phrase ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ ('by the hand of Moses') anchors the test in the Sinai covenant, making this verse the theological pivot from prologue to cycle.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came aboutAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula: 'and it came to pass')→ constative aorist (narrative event-marker)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come to pass'; καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי, a discourse-structuring device introducing or summarizing a state of affairs; here it frames the abiding situation of testing.
ὥστεso as / in orderconjunction introducing infinitival purpose clauseὥστε: with πειράσαι, expressing purpose; the construction echoes verbatim the ὥστε πειράσαι of v. 1, binding this summary back to the opening rationale.
πειράσαιto testAor Act Inf · πειράζωinfinitive of purpose (with ὥστε)πειράζω: 'test / try'; the repetition of the keyword (cf. v. 1) makes the testing-motif the explicit hermeneutical key to the whole leftover-nations section.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'by means of them' (the nations); the repetition of ἐν αὐτοῖς from v. 1 reinforces that the nations are YHWH's testing-instrument.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (instrumental)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of πειράσαι (indeclinable, articular)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
γνῶναιto knowAor Act Inf · γινώσκωepexegetic infinitive (specifying the aim of the test)→ aorist infinitive (purpose)γινώσκω: 'know / ascertain'; the infinitive γνῶναι explains the goal of the testing — to ascertain Israel's obedience; the construction γνῶναι εἰ ('to know whether') introduces an indirect question.
εἰwhetherconjunction introducing indirect questionεἰ: 'if / whether'; introduces the indirect question after γνῶναι, rendering the Hebrew interrogative; the open question expresses the genuine probative character of the test.
ἀκούσονταιthey will heedFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωverb of indirect question→ predictive future (retained in indirect discourse)ἀκούω: 'hear / heed / obey'; the future middle ἀκούσονται with accusative object means 'obey / give heed to'; renders שָׁמַע (which likewise spans 'hear' and 'obey'); the test is precisely one of covenant obedience.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of ἀκούσονταιἐντολή: 'commandment / precept'; renders מִצְוָה; the object of obedience is the body of Mosaic covenant stipulations, anchoring the test in Sinai law.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source/possession (with ἐντολὰς)κύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the commandments belong to and originate from YHWH, even though mediated through Moses.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative object of ἐνετείλατο)ὅς: relative pronoun, acc. fem. pl., agreeing with ἐντολάς; introduces the relative clause specifying the Mosaic mediation.
ἐνετείλατοhe commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the Sinai legislation as a completed act)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; the cognate of ἐντολή, forming a figura etymologica ('the commandments he commanded'); the subject is YHWH, the giver of the Sinai law.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativedative indirect object of ἐνετείλατοπατήρ (dat. pl. πατράσιν): 'father / ancestor'; renders אָבוֹת; the 'fathers' are the wilderness/Sinai generation to whom the law was first given, contrasted with the untested generations of v. 2.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατράσιν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand of')ἐν + dat.: instrumental; the phrase ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ ('by the hand of Moses') is a Hebraism (בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה) denoting Mosaic agency/mediation of the divine command.
χειρὶhandDativedative with ἐν (instrumental, Hebraism for agency)χείρ: 'hand'; in the idiom ἐν χειρί it denotes agency or mediation rather than literal hand; the same noun recurs concretely in the Ehud narrative (the left/right hand, vv. 15–21).
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with χειρί: 'the hand of Moses')Μωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): transliteration of מֹשֶׁה; declined as a contract noun in the LXX (gen./dat. Μωυσῆ, acc. Μωυσῆν); here genitive, naming Moses as the human mediator of YHWH's commandments.
5
καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ κατῴκησαν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Χαναναίου καὶ τοῦ Χετταίου καὶ τοῦ Αμορραίου καὶ τοῦ Φερεζαίου καὶ τοῦ Ευαίου καὶ τοῦ Ιεβουσαίου
And the sons of Israel dwelt in the midst of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
The verb κατῴκησαν ('they dwelt'), echoing the Hivite's κατοικοῦντα (v. 3), turns the prologue's geography against Israel: instead of dispossessing the nations, Israel settles ἐν μέσῳ ('in the midst of') them. The six-membered nation-list is the conventional Deuteronomic catalogue (cf. Deut 7:1; Josh 9:1), here signalling total assimilation and the loss of covenant distinctness.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of κατῴκησανυἱός: in the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel'), the recurrent LXX designation of the covenant people (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל); the formula recurs throughout the chapter as the collective subject.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
κατῴκησανthey dweltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωmain verb→ constative aorist (settled habitation)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle'; the same verb described the Hivite's habitation in v. 3 (κατοικοῦντα); the irony is pointed — Israel now 'settles in the midst of' the very nations it was to dispossess, the precondition for intermarriage and apostasy.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μέσῳmidstDativedative of place (ἐν μέσῳ: 'in the midst of')μέσος: 'middle / midst'; the phrase ἐν μέσῳ + genitive ('in the midst of') renders בְּקֶרֶב; it stresses the intermingling — Israel is not over but among the nations, a reversal of the conquest ideal.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναίουCanaaniteGenitivegenitive (with ἐν μέσῳ; collective gentilic)Χαναναῖος: 'Canaanite'; heads the six-nation list; the genitive depends on ἐν μέσῳ; the collective singular treats each people as a block.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧετταίουHittiteGenitivegenitive (collective gentilic in the list)Χετταῖος: 'Hittite'; renders הַחִתִּי; standard second member of the Deuteronomic nation-list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραίουAmoriteGenitivegenitive (collective gentilic in the list)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; renders הָאֱמֹרִי; the Amorite often stands as a comprehensive term for the highland populations of Canaan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΦερεζαίουPerizziteGenitivegenitive (collective gentilic in the list)Φερεζαῖος: 'Perizzite'; renders הַפְּרִזִּי; one of the lesser-known peoples consistently included in the land-lists.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕυαίουHiviteGenitivegenitive (collective gentilic in the list)Ευαῖος: 'Hivite'; renders הַחִוִּי; reappears from v. 3, now as one of the peoples among whom Israel dwells.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεβουσαίουJebusiteGenitivegenitive (final member of the gentilic list)Ιεβουσαῖος: 'Jebusite'; renders הַיְבוּסִי; the Jerusalem-dwelling people; closes the conventional six-nation catalogue, underscoring the comprehensiveness of Israel's assimilation.
6
καὶ ἔλαβον τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῖς εἰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἔδωκαν τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν
And they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.
The three coordinated clauses (took ... gave ... served) trace the causal logic of apostasy forbidden in Deut 7:3–4: marriage alliances with the nations lead inexorably to the worship of their gods (ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν). The chiastic exchange of daughters (took their daughters / gave their daughters) emphasizes the total breakdown of covenant separation.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβονthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (first of three coordinated clauses)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; λαμβάνειν ... εἰς γυναῖκας ('take as wives') is the standard LXX idiom for marriage (לָקַח ... לְאִשָּׁה); the act directly violates the Deuteronomic prohibition of intermarriage (Deut 7:3).
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβονθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the daughters of the nations, taken as wives by Israelite men — the first stage of the forbidden alliance.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the nations' daughters)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativereflexive dative of advantageἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; the dative of advantage ἑαυτοῖς ('for themselves') marks the Israelite men as the beneficiaries of the marriages, intensifying their culpable initiative.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as wives')εἰς + acc.: here predicative ('as / for'), rendering the Hebrew לְ of product/result; εἰς γυναῖκας = 'as wives'.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativepredicative accusative (with εἰς)γυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; in the idiom λαμβάνειν εἰς γυναῖκας it denotes taking in marriage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (fronted object, emphatic)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativefronted direct object of ἔδωκανθυγάτηρ: here Israel's own daughters, given in marriage to the nations' sons; the fronting (object before verb) reproduces Hebrew word-order emphasis and balances the chiasmus of exchanged daughters.
αὐτῶνtheir (own)Genitivegenitive of possession (Israel's daughters)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἔδωκανthey gaveAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (second coordinated clause)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; διδόναι θυγατέρας ('give daughters [in marriage]') is the reciprocal of λαμβάνειν; the two verbs together (take/give) describe the full two-way intermarriage forbidden in Deut 7:3.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object of ἔδωκανυἱός: here the sons of the nations, to whom Israel's daughters are given; the dative marks the recipients of the marriage gift.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the nations' sons)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the consequence)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάτρευσανthey served / worshipedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (third clause: the resulting idolatry)→ constative aorist (decisive apostasy)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; the verb denotes specifically religious service; the intermarriage of vv. 6a–b culminates in this — worship of the nations' gods, precisely the outcome Deut 7:4 warned would follow.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐλάτρευσανθεός: 'god'; here the pagan deities of the nations (rendering אֱלֹהִים of the foreign gods); λατρεύω takes the dative of the one served; this idolatry triggers the cycle of v. 7 and the divine anger of v. 8.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the nations' gods)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
7
καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐναντίον κυρίου καὶ ἐπελάθοντο κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς Βααλιμ καὶ τοῖς ἄλσεσιν
And the sons of Israel did what was evil before the LORD, and they forgot the LORD their God, and they served the Baalim and the groves.
The formula ἐποίησαν ... τὸ πονηρὸν ἐναντίον κυρίου ('did evil before the LORD') is the recurring incipit of every Judges cycle (cf. 2:11; 3:12; 4:1). Here it is amplified by two specifications: forgetting YHWH (ἐπελάθοντο) and serving τοῖς Βααλιμ καὶ τοῖς ἄλσεσιν ('the Baalim and the [Asherah-]groves'). This verse opens the paradigmatic Othniel deliverance (vv. 7–11).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (cycle-opening)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the apostasy-formula)→ constative aorist (the recurring covenant breach)ποιέω: 'do / make'; in the idiom ποιεῖν τὸ πονηρόν ('do evil') it renders עָשָׂה הָרַע; the formula is the structural trigger that opens each Judges cycle.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐποίησανυἱός: in οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ; the covenant people as collective agent of the apostasy.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing πονηρὸν)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativesubstantivized adjective (direct object: 'the evil')πονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; the substantivized neuter τὸ πονηρόν renders הָרַע ('the evil'); the phrase 'the evil before the LORD' frames the sin as covenant-relational, an offense in YHWH's sight; recurs at v. 12.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative: 'in the eyes of')ἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); it frames the evil as judged from YHWH's evaluative perspective.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίονκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; the evil is done 'before the LORD,' an affront to the covenant deity himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπελάθοντοthey forgotAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιλανθάνομαιmain verb (second clause)→ constative aoristἐπιλανθάνομαι: 'forget / neglect'; renders שָׁכַח; takes a genitive object (κυρίου); 'forgetting YHWH' is a Deuteronomic idiom for covenant abandonment (cf. Deut 8:11–19), not mere mental lapse but practical apostasy.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐπελάθοντοκύριος (gen.): the genitive object of 'forgot'; the divine name stresses that what was forgotten is the covenant LORD himself, not merely his law.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ, in apposition to κυρίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου ('the LORD their God')θεός: 'God'; the appositional κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτῶν ('the LORD their God') renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם; the possessive 'their' sharpens the betrayal — they forgot their own covenant God.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῦ)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάτρευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (third clause)→ constative aoristλατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; repeats the verb of v. 6; the cultic service is now directed to the Baalim and the sacred groves, naming the specific apostasy that provokes the divine anger of v. 8.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλιμBaalim / the Baalsdative object of ἐλάτρευσαν (indeclinable transliterated plural)Βααλιμ: transliteration of the Hebrew plural בְּעָלִים ('the Baals'); indeclinable in the LXX; the plural denotes the various local manifestations of the Canaanite storm-god Baal; the article τοῖς supplies the dative function.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄλσεσινgroves / AsherahsDativedative object of ἐλάτρευσανἄλσος (dat. pl. ἄλσεσιν): 'grove / sacred wood'; the LXX's standard rendering of אֲשֵׁרוֹת (the Asherah cult-poles/goddess); by metonymy the wooden cult-objects of the fertility goddess Asherah, paired conventionally with the Baalim as the twin emblems of Canaanite worship.
8
καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ κύριος ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ ἀπέδοτο αὐτοὺς ἐν χειρὶ Χουσαρσαθαιμ βασιλέως Συρίας ποταμῶν καὶ ἐδούλευσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τῷ Χουσαρσαθαιμ ἔτη ὀκτώ
And the LORD was angry with wrath against Israel, and he handed them over into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.
The cognate construction ὠργίσθη θυμῷ ('was angry with wrath') is a Hebraizing intensifier (rendering וַיִּחַר אַף). The commercial metaphor ἀπέδοτο ('sold / handed over') casts Israel as goods sold into bondage. The oppressor is Χουσαρσαθαιμ βασιλεὺς Συρίας ποταμῶν ('Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia'), and the eight-year servitude initiates the deliverance pattern.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὠργίσθηwas angryAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb (divine anger)→ ingressive aorist passive (kindling of wrath)ὀργίζω (aor. pass. ὠργίσθη): 'be angry / become wrathful'; renders חָרָה אַף; the passive form functions as a deponent/middle ('grew angry'); the divine ὀργή against covenant breach is the engine of the judgment-phase of each cycle.
θυμῷwith wrathDativedative of manner (cognate intensifier)θυμός: 'wrath / fury / hot anger'; the dative θυμῷ with ὠργίσθη forms a Hebraizing cognate construction intensifying the verb ('was angry with anger' = burned with fury), rendering the Hebrew וַיִּחַר אַף; θυμός denotes the heated, passionate aspect of anger.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ὠργίσθηκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; YHWH himself is the subject of the wrath, making the ensuing oppression a covenant judgment rather than mere political misfortune.
ἐνagainst / withpreposition + dative (object of anger)ἐν + dat.: here marking the object of the anger ('angry with/against Israel'), a Hebraistic rendering of the בְּ that follows חָרָה אַף.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative object of ἐν (indeclinable, articular)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέδοτοhe handed over / soldAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (consequence of anger)→ constative aoristἀποδίδωμι (mid. ἀπέδοτο): 'give up / sell / hand over'; the middle here means 'sell', rendering מָכַר; the commercial metaphor presents Israel as chattel sold into the oppressor's hand — a vivid image of covenant judgment (cf. 2:14; 4:2).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπέδοτοαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (Hebraism: 'into the hand of')ἐν + dat.: in the idiom ἐν χειρί ('into the hand of'), rendering בְּיַד; denotes delivering into someone's power.
χειρὶhandDativedative with ἐν (idiomatic: 'into the power of')χείρ: 'hand'; in the idiom ἐν χειρί it denotes power/dominion; 'into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim' = under his subjugating power.
ΧουσαρσαθαιμCushan-rishathaimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'hand of Cushan-rishathaim')Χουσαρσαθαιμ: transliteration of כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם ('Cushan of double-wickedness'); indeclinable in the LXX; the first oppressor of the Judges cycles, king of Aram-Naharaim/Mesopotamia; the ominous name suits the role.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Χουσαρσαθαιμβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; in apposition to the indeclinable name, supplying its case and title.
Συρίαςof Syria / AramGenitivegenitive (region ruled: 'king of Syria of rivers')Συρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the phrase Συρίας ποταμῶν ('Syria of rivers') renders אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם ('Aram of the two rivers' = Mesopotamia), the region between the Euphrates and the Khabur (or Tigris).
ποταμῶνof riversGenitivegenitive (with Συρίας: 'Syria of the rivers' = Mesopotamia)ποταμός (gen. pl. ποταμῶν): 'river'; the genitive ποταμῶν in Συρίας ποταμῶν calques the Hebrew dual נַהֲרַיִם ('two rivers'); the whole phrase designates Mesopotamia (Aram-Naharaim).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδούλευσανthey served / were enslavedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (the servitude)→ constative aorist (the eight-year bondage as a whole)δουλεύω: 'serve as a slave / be in bondage'; renders עָבַד; takes the dative of the master (τῷ Χουσαρσαθαιμ); denotes political subjugation and forced labor/tribute under the foreign king.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐδούλευσανυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the subject in bondage.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τῷthe (to)Dativearticle (with Χουσαρσαθαιμ, dative)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧουσαρσαθαιμCushan-rishathaimdative object of ἐδούλευσαν (indeclinable, articular)Χουσαρσαθαιμ: here in the dative (marked by τῷ) as the master served; the repetition of the full name underscores the duration and indignity of the bondage.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of duration ('for eight years'); the servitude-periods (8, 18, 80 years in this chapter) structure the chronology of the cycles.
ὀκτώeightindeclinable numeral (with ἔτη)ὀκτώ: 'eight'; indeclinable cardinal; the eight-year bondage to Cushan-rishathaim, the shortest servitude in the chapter, sets the rhythm of the cyclical schema.
9
καὶ ἐκέκραξαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον καὶ ἤγειρεν κύριος σωτῆρα τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ ἔσωσεν αὐτούς τὸν Γοθονιηλ υἱὸν Κενεζ ἀδελφοῦ Χαλεβ τὸν νεώτερον ὑπὲρ αὐτόν
And the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up a savior for Israel, and he saved them: Othniel son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb.
ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς κύριον ('cried out to the LORD') is the cry-of-distress that turns each cycle; YHWH's response, ἤγειρεν ... σωτῆρα ('raised up a savior'), introduces the deliverer Othniel, defined by his Calebite lineage. The doublet ἤγειρεν ... καὶ ἔσωσεν makes YHWH the ultimate savior who acts through the human σωτήρ.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκέκραξανthey cried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κράζωmain verb (the cry of distress)→ constative aorist (the decisive cry)κράζω: 'cry out / call aloud'; the reduplicated aorist ἐκέκραξαν renders זָעַק; the cry to YHWH from oppression is the pivotal turning-point of each cycle (cf. v. 15), evoking the Exodus cry (Exod 2:23).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐκέκραξανυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people in distress who cry out.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)πρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; marks YHWH as the addressee of the cry.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςκύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton; the cry is directed to the covenant LORD, who alone can deliver.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤγειρενraised upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγείρωmain verb (divine raising of the deliverer)→ constative aorist (decisive divine act)ἐγείρω: 'raise up / rouse'; renders הֵקִים; the technical verb for YHWH's commissioning of a deliverer (cf. 2:16, 18); the divine initiative is the heart of the deliverance schema.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἤγειρενκύριος: YHWH as the active subject who raises the savior; the human deliverer is wholly a divine gift.
σωτῆραsavior / delivererAccusativedirect object of ἤγειρενσωτήρ: 'savior / deliverer'; renders מוֹשִׁיעַ; the office-term for the judges as YHWH's appointed rescuers; here applied to Othniel, and again to Ehud (v. 15).
τῷthe (for)Dativearticle (with Ισραηλ, dative of advantage)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ισραηλfor Israeldative of advantage (indeclinable, articular)Ισραηλ: here dative (marked by τῷ), the beneficiary for whom the savior is raised.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσωσενhe savedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (the act of deliverance)→ constative aoristσῴζω: 'save / rescue / deliver'; renders יָשַׁע; cognate with σωτήρ; the subject may be read as YHWH (acting through the deliverer) or the σωτήρ himself; the ambiguity expresses the joint divine-human agency of deliverance.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἔσωσεναὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Γοθονιηλ, in apposition to σωτῆρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓοθονιηλOthnielaccusative in apposition to σωτῆρα (indeclinable, articular)Γοθονιηλ: transliteration of עָתְנִיאֵל (Othniel); indeclinable; the first judge, identified by his Calebite/Kenizzite lineage; the article τόν marks the accusative apposition to σωτῆρα.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition (genealogical: 'son of Kenaz')υἱός: here in the genealogical formula 'son of Kenaz', in apposition (accusative) to Γοθονιηλ.
Κενεζof Kenazgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Kenaz')Κενεζ: transliteration of קְנַז (Kenaz); indeclinable; the eponymous ancestor of the Kenizzites, linking Othniel to Caleb's clan.
ἀδελφοῦbrotherGenitivegenitive in apposition (defining Othniel's relation to Caleb)ἀδελφός (gen. ἀδελφοῦ): 'brother / kinsman'; renders אָח; here defines Othniel as the (younger) brother/kinsman of Caleb; the kinship grounds the deliverer in the heroic conquest generation (cf. Josh 15:17; Judg 1:13).
Χαλεβof Calebgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'brother of Caleb')Χαλεβ: transliteration of כָּלֵב (Caleb); indeclinable; the faithful spy of Num 13–14; Othniel's connection to Caleb lends him conquest-era credibility.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νεώτερον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεώτερονyoungerAccusativecomparative adjective (in apposition: 'the younger')νέος (compar. νεώτερος): 'young / younger'; the comparative τὸν νεώτερον ὑπὲρ αὐτόν ('the younger than he') renders the Hebrew הַקָּטֹן מִמֶּנּוּ ('younger than he'); identifies Othniel as Caleb's junior kinsman.
ὑπὲρthanpreposition + accusative (comparison: 'younger than')ὑπέρ + acc.: here marking comparison ('than'), a Hebraistic use rendering the comparative מִן; with νεώτερον it forms 'younger than he'.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative of comparison (object of ὑπέρ: 'than him' = Caleb)αὐτός: refers to Caleb; the comparative phrase ὑπὲρ αὐτόν ('than he') completes the identification of Othniel as Caleb's younger relative.
10
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου καὶ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς πόλεμον πρὸς Χουσαρσαθαιμ καὶ παρέδωκεν κύριος ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὸν Χουσαρσαθαιμ βασιλέα Συρίας ποταμῶν καὶ ἐκραταιώθη ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν Χουσαρσαθαιμ
And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel and went out to war against Cushan-rishathaim; and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, into his hand, and his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.
The descent of the πνεῦμα κυρίου ('Spirit of the LORD') is the charismatic empowerment that authenticates the judge (cf. 6:34; 11:29; 14:6). The chain ἔκρινεν ... ἐξῆλθεν ... παρέδωκεν ... ἐκραταιώθη moves from office (judging) to action (war) to divine grant of victory to consummation, with κύριος the explicit agent of the handing-over (παρέδωκεν).
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοcameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the Spirit's coming)→ ingressive aorist (onset of empowerment)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be / come upon'; in ἐγένετο ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου it renders וַתְּהִי עָלָיו רוּחַ יהוה ('the Spirit of YHWH came upon him'), the standard idiom for charismatic empowerment of a judge.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction: 'upon him')ἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; marks the Spirit's descent onto Othniel; the elided form ἐπ᾿ stands before the vowel of αὐτόν.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Othniel)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of ἐγένετοπνεῦμα: 'spirit / breath / wind'; renders רוּחַ; the πνεῦμα κυρίου is the divine empowering presence that equips the judge for deliverance; its descent here marks Othniel's commissioning for war.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source/possession (with πνεῦμα)κύριος (gen.): the Tetragrammaton; 'the Spirit of YHWH' belongs to and proceeds from the covenant God, the source of the judge's authority and power.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκρινενhe judgedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (Othniel's judicial office)→ constative aorist (assumption of the office)κρίνω: 'judge / govern / vindicate'; renders שָׁפַט; the verb that gives the book its name (Κριταί); in Judges it denotes both governance and military deliverance; recurs of Ehud at v. 30.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἔκρινεν (indeclinable, articular)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενhe went outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (going out to battle)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; ἐξῆλθεν εἰς πόλεμον ('went out to war') renders יָצָא לַמִּלְחָמָה, the idiom for launching a military campaign.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to war')εἰς + acc.: here of purpose/goal ('to/for war').
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal of going out)πόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the keyword of the prologue (vv. 1–2) is here actualized — the generation 'taught war' now wages it through its Spirit-empowered judge.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)πρός + acc.: here adversative ('against'), marking the enemy.
ΧουσαρσαθαιμCushan-rishathaimaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)Χουσαρσαθαιμ: the Mesopotamian oppressor, now the military target.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενhe gave overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (divine grant of victory)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן בְּיַד; the technical verb for YHWH's delivering the enemy into the deliverer's power; the divine subject κύριος makes the victory unambiguously YHWH's gift.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκενκύριος: YHWH as the giver of victory; the deliverance is achieved not by Othniel's prowess but by YHWH's act.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'into the hand of')ἐν + dat.: in ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ('into his hand'), rendering בְּיָדוֹ; denotes transfer of power over the enemy to Othniel.
χειρὶhandDativedative with ἐν (idiomatic: 'into the power of')χείρ: 'hand / power'; the reversal-image — the same idiom (ἐν χειρί) that described Israel's bondage (v. 8) now describes the enemy's defeat.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Othniel's hand)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Χουσαρσαθαιμ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧουσαρσαθαιμCushan-rishathaimaccusative object of παρέδωκεν (indeclinable, articular)Χουσαρσαθαιμ: the object handed over; the repeated full name (×3 in this verse) hammers the totality of the defeat.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Χουσαρσαθαιμβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; in apposition, supplying case and title to the indeclinable name.
Συρίαςof Syria / AramGenitivegenitive (region ruled)Συρία: 'Syria / Aram'; with ποταμῶν = Mesopotamia (Aram-Naharaim); repeats the title of v. 8.
ποταμῶνof riversGenitivegenitive (with Συρίας: 'of the rivers' = Mesopotamia)ποταμός: 'river'; Συρίας ποταμῶν calques נַהֲרַיִם, designating Mesopotamia.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκραταιώθηprevailed / grew strongAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κραταιόωmain verb (the consummation of victory)→ ingressive/constative aorist passive ('grew strong / prevailed')κραταιόω (aor. pass. ἐκραταιώθη): 'strengthen / make mighty / prevail'; renders עָזַז / חָזַק; ἐκραταιώθη ἡ χείρ ('the hand prevailed') is a Hebraism for decisive military triumph; the 'strong hand' motif inverts the bondage of v. 8.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with χεὶρ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεὶρhandNominativesubject of ἐκραταιώθηχείρ: 'hand'; here Othniel's hand 'prevailed over' Cushan-rishathaim; the hand-motif (ἐν χειρί, v. 8, 10; ἐκραταιώθη ἡ χείρ) frames the whole Othniel cycle and anticipates the literal hand-play of the Ehud narrative.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Othniel's hand)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐπὶover / againstpreposition + accusative (prevailing 'over')ἐπί + acc.: here 'over / against', marking the one prevailed against.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Χουσαρσαθαιμ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧουσαρσαθαιμCushan-rishathaimaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable, articular)Χουσαρσαθαιμ: the defeated oppressor, named a final time to seal the victory.
11
καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη καὶ ἀπέθανεν Γοθονιηλ υἱὸς Κενεζ
And the land was at rest forty years; and Othniel son of Kenaz died.
ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ... ἔτη ('the land was quiet ... years') is the closing rest-formula of each completed cycle (cf. v. 30; 5:31; 8:28); the forty-year span is the schematic ideal generation. The death-notice of the judge (ἀπέθανεν Γοθονιηλ) seals the unit and sets up the relapse of v. 12.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡσύχασενwas at rest / was quietAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἡσυχάζωmain verb (rest-formula)→ constative aorist (the whole period of peace)ἡσυχάζω: 'be quiet / be at rest / have peace'; renders שָׁקַט; the standard closing formula ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ('the land had rest') marks the period of restored order following each deliverance (cf. v. 30).
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆland / earthNominativesubject of ἡσύχασενγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the land itself is personified as enjoying rest, a metonymy for the people's peace and security under the judge.
τεσσαράκονταfortyindeclinable numeral (with ἔτη)τεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; indeclinable cardinal; the schematic 'generation' of forty years (cf. v. 30's eighty = two generations); a round, ideal span signalling complete restoration.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; accusative of duration ('for forty years').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (death-notice)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the death of the judge closes his cycle and removes the restraint on apostasy, precipitating the next relapse (cf. 2:19).
ΓοθονιηλOthnielsubject of ἀπέθανεν (indeclinable proper noun)Γοθονιηλ: Othniel; the first judge, whose death ends the paradigmatic cycle.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (genealogical)υἱός: in the genealogical apposition 'son of Kenaz', here nominative agreeing with the subject Γοθονιηλ.
Κενεζof Kenazgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Kenaz')Κενεζ: Kenaz; the patronymic seals Othniel's identity at his death as at his introduction (v. 9), framing the cycle.
12
καὶ προσέθεντο οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ ἐνίσχυσεν κύριος τὸν Εγλωμ βασιλέα Μωαβ ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ διὰ τὸ πεποιηκέναι αὐτοὺς τὸ πονηρὸν ἔναντι κυρίου
And the sons of Israel again did what was evil before the LORD; and the LORD strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil before the LORD.
προσέθεντο ... ποιῆσαι ('they again did') is the Hebraistic idiom (יָסַף + infinitive) for renewed apostasy that opens the second cycle. YHWH's strengthening of Eglon (ἐνίσχυσεν) makes the foreign king an instrument of judgment, and the causal διὰ τὸ πεποιηκέναι ('because they had done') articulates the moral logic of the oppression. This verse opens the long Ehud narrative (vv. 12–30).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new cycle)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσέθεντοthey continued / did againAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary with infinitive: 'again did')→ constative aorist (renewed apostasy)προστίθημι (mid. προσέθεντο): 'add / continue / do again'; the idiom προσέθεντο ποιῆσαι ('they added to do' = 'they again did') calques the Hebrew יָסְפוּ ... לַעֲשׂוֹת, expressing the recurrence of the apostasy that opens each new cycle.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of προσέθεντουἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people relapsing into evil.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with προσέθεντο)→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do / make'; the complementary infinitive completing προσέθεντο; ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν repeats the apostasy-formula of v. 7.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing πονηρὸν)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativesubstantivized adjective (object of ποιῆσαι)πονηρός: 'evil'; τὸ πονηρόν ('the evil') repeats the cycle-formula; the recurrence binds the Ehud cycle to the Othniel pattern.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative)ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; a synonym of ἐναντίον (v. 7), rendering לִפְנֵי / בְּעֵינֵי; the variation (ἐνώπιον here, ἔναντι at verse's end) is stylistic.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιονκύριος (gen.): the Tetragrammaton; the evil is again done in YHWH's sight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνίσχυσενstrengthenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐνισχύωmain verb (divine strengthening of the oppressor)→ constative aoristἐνισχύω: 'strengthen / make strong'; renders חִזֵּק; YHWH 'strengthens' the foreign king Eglon against Israel, making Moab the deliberate instrument of covenant judgment — a striking attribution of the enemy's power to YHWH himself.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐνίσχυσενκύριος: YHWH as the one who empowers the oppressor; the theological logic is that even Israel's enemies serve YHWH's disciplinary purpose.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Εγλωμ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕγλωμEglonaccusative object of ἐνίσχυσεν (indeclinable, articular)Εγλωμ: transliteration of עֶגְלוֹן (Eglon); indeclinable; king of Moab, the obese antagonist of the Ehud narrative; the article τόν marks the accusative.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Εγλωμβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; in apposition, supplying case and title to the indeclinable Εγλωμ.
Μωαβof Moabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Moab')Μωαβ: transliteration of מוֹאָב (Moab); indeclinable; the Transjordanian nation east of the Dead Sea, Israel's traditional rival; here the oppressing power.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile: 'against Israel')ἐπί + acc.: here adversative ('against'), marking Israel as the object of Eglon's empowered hostility.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable, articular)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (causal, with articular infinitive)διά + acc.: 'because of / on account of'; with the articular infinitive τὸ πεποιηκέναι it forms a causal clause ('because they had done'), the standard LXX construction for cause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with articular infinitive πεποιηκέναι)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεποιηκέναιto have donePerf Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive (causal, with διά)→ resultative perfect (the settled fact of their evildoing)ποιέω (perf. inf. πεποιηκέναι): 'do / make'; the perfect infinitive in the causal phrase διὰ τὸ πεποιηκέναι ('because they had done') stresses the established, completed fact of their apostasy as the ground of the judgment.
αὐτοὺςthey (them)Accusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitiveαὐτός: the accusative subject of the infinitive πεποιηκέναι (Greek accusative-with-infinitive); refers to the sons of Israel.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing πονηρὸν)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativeobject of πεποιηκέναιπονηρός: 'evil'; the third occurrence of τὸ πονηρόν in the verse, hammering the moral cause of the Moabite oppression.
ἔναντιbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative)ἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; a third synonym (with ἐναντίον, ἐνώπιον) for 'in the sight of', rendering לִפְנֵי; the variation is purely stylistic within the formulaic refrain.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντικύριος (gen.): the Tetragrammaton; closes the causal refrain, grounding the judgment in the offense against YHWH.
13
καὶ συνήγαγεν πρὸς ἑαυτὸν πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς Αμμων καὶ Αμαληκ καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἐπάταξεν τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ ἐκληρονόμησεν τὴν πόλιν τῶν φοινίκων
And he gathered to himself all the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and he went and struck Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.
Eglon allies with Ammon and Amalek (the traditional eastern/desert enemies) and seizes the πόλις τῶν φοινίκων ('City of Palms', Jericho), establishing a Moabite bridgehead west of the Jordan. The verb chain συνήγαγεν ... ἐπορεύθη ... ἐπάταξεν ... ἐκληρονόμησεν narrates the swift, total subjugation.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνήγαγενhe gatheredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (mustering the coalition)→ constative aoristσυνάγω: 'gather / assemble / muster'; renders אָסַף; Eglon musters an allied coalition for the campaign against Israel; the reflexive πρὸς ἑαυτόν stresses his initiative.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (with reflexive: 'to himself')πρός + acc.: here 'to / unto', with the reflexive ἑαυτόν ('to himself').
ἑαυτὸνhimselfAccusativereflexive pronoun (object of πρός)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; πρὸς ἑαυτόν ('to himself') marks Eglon as the gathering-point of the coalition.
πάνταςallAccusativeadjective (modifying τοὺς υἱοὺς)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the Ammonite forces joined to Amalek.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱοὺς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of συνήγαγενυἱός: in 'the sons of Ammon' (= the Ammonites), the standard LXX ethnonym (בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן).
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Ammon')Αμμων: transliteration of עַמּוֹן (Ammon); indeclinable; the Transjordanian people north of Moab, here Eglon's ally.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑμαληκAmalekcoordinate object (indeclinable: 'and Amalek')Αμαληκ: transliteration of עֲמָלֵק (Amalek); indeclinable; the nomadic desert people, archetypal enemy of Israel (Exod 17:8–16); their inclusion broadens the coalition against Israel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηhe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (advance)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed / march'; the aorist passive ἐπορεύθη functions as a deponent ('he went/marched'); the verb of military advance toward Israel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενhe struckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (defeating Israel)→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite / defeat'; renders הִכָּה (Hiphil of נכה); the standard verb for inflicting military defeat; here Eglon strikes Israel, but the same verb will return against Moab (v. 29) and the Philistines (v. 31) in reversal.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπάταξεν (indeclinable, articular)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκληρονόμησενhe took possession ofAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κληρονομέωmain verb (seizing the city)→ constative aoristκληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of / occupy'; renders יָרַשׁ; ironically the verb of Israel's own conquest-inheritance is now used of the Moabite seizure of Israelite territory — a reversal of the inheritance-theology of the prologue.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativedirect object of ἐκληρονόμησενπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; ἡ πόλις τῶν φοινίκων ('the City of Palms') is Jericho (cf. Deut 34:3; Judg 1:16), a strategic site commanding the Jordan crossings — hence Eglon's bridgehead west of the river.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with φοινίκων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φοινίκωνof palmsGenitivegenitive (defining the city: 'of palm trees')φοῖνιξ (gen. pl. φοινίκων): 'palm tree / date palm'; renders תָּמָר; ἡ πόλις τῶν φοινίκων ('City of Palms') is the epithet of Jericho, famed for its date palms in the Jordan oasis.
14
καὶ ἐδούλευσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τῷ Εγλωμ βασιλεῖ Μωαβ ἔτη δέκα ὀκτώ
And the sons of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.
The servitude-formula (ἐδούλευσαν ... ἔτη) parallels v. 8 exactly, now with an eighteen-year span under Eglon — more than double the eight years of Cushan-rishathaim, signalling the deepening of the apostasy-judgment pattern.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδούλευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (the servitude)→ constative aorist (the whole eighteen-year bondage)δουλεύω: 'serve as slaves / be in bondage'; takes the dative of the master (τῷ Εγλωμ); the verbatim repetition of v. 8 marks the recurrence of the servitude-phase in the Ehud cycle.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐδούλευσανυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people in bondage.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τῷthe (to)Dativearticle (with Εγλωμ, dative)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕγλωμEglondative object of ἐδούλευσαν (indeclinable, articular)Εγλωμ: Eglon, here the master served (dative marked by τῷ).
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Εγλωμβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): 'king'; in apposition, supplying case and title to the indeclinable name.
Μωαβof Moabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Moab')Μωαβ: Moab; the kingdom Eglon rules.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; accusative of duration ('eighteen years').
δέκαtenindeclinable numeral (with ὀκτώ: 'eighteen')δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable; in the compound numeral δέκα ὀκτώ ('ten[-and]-eight' = eighteen).
ὀκτώeightindeclinable numeral (with δέκα: 'eighteen')ὀκτώ: 'eight'; the analytic δέκα ὀκτώ renders the Hebrew שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה (eighteen); the eighteen-year bondage to Moab, the longest oppression yet in the chapter.
15
καὶ ἐκέκραξαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτοῖς σωτῆρα τὸν Αωδ υἱὸν Γηρα υἱὸν τοῦ Ιεμενι ἄνδρα ἀμφοτεροδέξιον καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ δῶρα ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τῷ Εγλωμ βασιλεῖ Μωαβ
And the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, and he raised up for them a savior, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjaminite, a man left-handed; and the sons of Israel sent tribute by his hand to Eglon king of Moab.
The cry-formula (verbatim from v. 9) introduces the second deliverer, Ehud, characterized by two narratively loaded details: he is υἱὸς τοῦ Ιεμενι (a Benjaminite — lit. 'son of the right-hander') yet ἀμφοτεροδέξιος ('ambidextrous / left-handed'), a paradox the plot will exploit. The tribute-mission (ἐξαπέστειλαν ... δῶρα) provides his access to the king.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκέκραξανthey cried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κράζωmain verb (the cry of distress)→ constative aoristκράζω: 'cry out'; the reduplicated aorist ἐκέκραξαν repeats verbatim the cry-formula of v. 9, marking the turning-point of the Ehud cycle.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐκέκραξανυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people crying out.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)πρός + acc.: marks YHWH as the addressee of the cry.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςκύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton; the cry is again directed to the covenant LORD.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤγειρενhe raised upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγείρωmain verb (divine raising of the deliverer)→ constative aoristἐγείρω: 'raise up'; the subject (YHWH) is implicit from the cry; ἤγειρεν ... σωτῆρα repeats the commissioning-formula of v. 9, introducing Ehud.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of advantage (for whom the savior is raised)αὐτός: dative of advantage ('for them'); the deliverer is raised for Israel's benefit.
σωτῆραsaviorAccusativedirect object of ἤγειρενσωτήρ: 'savior / deliverer'; the office-term applied to Ehud as to Othniel (v. 9); the judges are YHWH's appointed rescuers.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Αωδ, in apposition to σωτῆρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑωδEhudaccusative in apposition to σωτῆρα (indeclinable, articular)Αωδ: transliteration of אֵהוּד (Ehud); indeclinable; the left-handed Benjaminite, protagonist of vv. 15–30; the article τόν marks the accusative apposition.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition (genealogical)υἱός: in the patronymic 'son of Gera', accusative in apposition to Αωδ.
Γηραof Geragenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Gera')Γηρα: transliteration of גֵּרָא (Gera); indeclinable; a Benjaminite clan-name (cf. Gen 46:21), here Ehud's father.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition ('a Benjaminite', lit. 'son of the right-hander')υἱός: in υἱὸν τοῦ Ιεμενι, lit. 'son of the Jeminite', the LXX's rendering of בֶּן הַיְמִינִי ('Benjaminite' / 'son of the right hand'); the phrase plays ironically against Ehud's left-handedness in the next word.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιεμενι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεμενιJeminite / Benjaminitegenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of the Jeminite')Ιεμενι: transliteration of (הַ)יְמִינִי ('the right-hander / Benjaminite'); indeclinable, governed by τοῦ; the name of Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין, 'son of the right hand') makes the designation 'son of the right-hander' pointedly ironic before ἀμφοτεροδέξιον.
ἄνδραmanAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Αωδἀνήρ (acc. ἄνδρα): 'man'; renders אִישׁ; introduces the crucial physical characterization that follows.
ἀμφοτεροδέξιονambidextrous / left-handedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄνδρα)ἀμφοτεροδέξιος: lit. 'right-handed on both sides / ambidextrous'; the LXX's euphemistic rendering of the Hebrew אִטֵּר יַד יְמִינוֹ ('restricted/bound in his right hand' = left-handed); this trait is the plot's hinge — Ehud can draw a blade from his right thigh undetected (v. 21), since searchers expect a weapon on the left.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαπέστειλανthey sentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (the tribute-mission)→ constative aoristἐξαποστέλλω: 'send out / dispatch'; the Israelites dispatch tribute by Ehud's hand; the mission provides the pretext for his audience with Eglon.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐξαπέστειλανυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the senders of the tribute.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
δῶραgifts / tributeAccusativedirect object of ἐξαπέστειλανδῶρον (pl. δῶρα): 'gift / present / tribute'; renders מִנְחָה; here the obligatory tribute of a vassal to his overlord; the recurring δῶρα (vv. 17, 18) is the cover for Ehud's access and assassination.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (Hebraism: 'by the hand of')ἐν + dat.: in ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ('by his hand'), rendering בְּיָדוֹ; idiom of agency — the tribute is conveyed through Ehud.
χειρὶhandDativedative with ἐν (idiomatic: agency)χείρ: 'hand'; the recurring hand-motif of the chapter; here 'by his hand' as conveyor of the tribute, soon to be the hand that wields the dagger.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Ehud's hand)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τῷthe (to)Dativearticle (with Εγλωμ, dative)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕγλωμEglondative indirect object (recipient of tribute; indeclinable, articular)Εγλωμ: Eglon, the overlord to whom the tribute is sent (dative marked by τῷ).
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Εγλωμβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): 'king'; in apposition, supplying case and title.
Μωαβof Moabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Moab')Μωαβ: Moab; the kingdom of the tribute's recipient.
16
καὶ ἐποίησεν ἑαυτῷ Αωδ μάχαιραν δίστομον σπιθαμῆς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ περιεζώσατο αὐτὴν ὑπὸ τὸν μανδύαν ἐπὶ τὸν μηρὸν τὸν δεξιὸν αὐτοῦ
And Ehud made for himself a two-edged dagger, a span its length, and girded it under his cloak on his right thigh.
The verse details the murder-weapon with novelistic precision: a μάχαιρα δίστομος ('two-edged dagger') a span long, short enough to conceal ὑπὸ τὸν μανδύαν ('under the cloak') on the right thigh — exactly where a left-handed man would carry it and where guards, expecting a left-hung sword, would not search. Every detail (length, edges, placement) is loaded for the plot.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (forging the weapon)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / fashion'; here of crafting the dagger; the reflexive ἑαυτῷ ('for himself') stresses Ehud's deliberate, personal preparation of the assassination weapon.
ἑαυτῷfor himselfDativereflexive dative of advantageἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; the dative of advantage ('for himself') underscores the premeditation of Ehud's act.
ΑωδEhudsubject of ἐποίησεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, the subject; the maker of the concealed dagger.
μάχαιρανdagger / swordAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησενμάχαιρα: 'dagger / short sword / knife'; renders חֶרֶב; the central object of the narrative, recurring at vv. 21, 22; its shortness (a span) makes it concealable, unlike a battle-sword.
δίστομονtwo-edgedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying μάχαιραν)δίστομος: lit. 'two-mouthed' = 'two-edged'; renders the Hebrew (חֶרֶב) שְׁנֵי פֵיוֹת ('a sword of two mouths/edges'); a double-edged blade for thrusting, ideal for the single deep stab into Eglon's belly.
σπιθαμῆςof a spanGenitivegenitive of measure (with τὸ μῆκος: 'a span in length')σπιθαμή (gen. σπιθαμῆς): 'span' (the distance from thumb to little finger, c. 22 cm); renders גֹּמֶד; the genitive of measure specifies the blade's short length — concealable, but long enough to be lethal.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with μῆκος)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μῆκοςlengthNominativeaccusative/nominative of respect ('its length [was] a span')μῆκος: 'length'; renders אֹרֶךְ; in the phrase σπιθαμῆς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς ('a span [was] its length') it functions as a nominative of specification within the descriptive clause.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the dagger's length)αὐτός: refers to the μάχαιρα (feminine); 'its length'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιεζώσατοhe girded onAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · περιζώννυμιmain verb (concealing the weapon)→ constative aoristπεριζώννυμι (mid. περιεζώσατο): 'gird (oneself) / fasten about'; renders חָגַר; the middle voice ('girded on himself') marks Ehud strapping the dagger to his own body — concealed for the coming audience.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of περιεζώσατο (the dagger)αὐτός: refers to the μάχαιρα; 'girded it on'.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (concealment: 'under the cloak')ὑπό + acc.: 'under'; marks the concealment of the dagger beneath the garment.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μανδύαν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μανδύανcloak / mantleAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπόμανδύας: 'cloak / military mantle' (a loan-word, perhaps Persian); renders מַד; the outer garment under which the dagger is hidden; its bulk allows the weapon to escape notice.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (location on the body)ἐπί + acc.: 'on / upon'; marks where the dagger is fastened — the right thigh.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μηρὸν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηρὸνthighAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίμηρός: 'thigh'; renders יָרֵךְ; the right thigh (μηρὸν τὸν δεξιόν) is the key detail — a right-handed warrior carries his sword on the left thigh, so guards would not search Ehud's right side; his left-handedness makes the right-thigh placement natural and undetectable.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with δεξιὸν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεξιὸνrightAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying μηρὸν: 'right thigh')δεξιός: 'right (hand/side)'; renders יָמִין; the 'right thigh' is the crux of the concealment — opposite the side where a sword is normally worn, hence beyond suspicion.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Ehud's thigh)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
17
καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ προσήνεγκεν τὰ δῶρα τῷ Εγλωμ βασιλεῖ Μωαβ καὶ Εγλωμ ἀνὴρ ἀστεῖος σφόδρα
And he went and presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab; and Eglon was a very stout man.
Ehud carries out the tribute-presentation; the narrator then inserts a deadpan parenthetical — Εγλωμ ἀνὴρ ἀστεῖος σφόδρα ('Eglon was a very stout man') — using ἀστεῖος (lit. 'urbane / fine', here euphemistically 'fat/well-fed') to set up the grotesque detail of v. 22, where the blade disappears into the king's fat.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηhe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (going to the king)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the aorist passive deponent ἐπορεύθη; Ehud travels to Eglon's court to deliver the tribute.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσήνεγκενhe presented / offeredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσφέρωmain verb (presenting the tribute)→ constative aoristπροσφέρω: 'bring to / present / offer'; renders הִקְרִיב; the formal presentation of tribute to the overlord; the cultic overtones of προσφέρω (used of offerings) lend faint irony to this 'offering' that masks an assassination.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δῶρα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δῶραgifts / tributeAccusativedirect object of προσήνεγκενδῶρον (pl. δῶρα): 'tribute / gift'; the vassal-tribute of v. 15, now formally delivered; the article τά marks it as the previously mentioned tribute.
τῷthe (to)Dativearticle (with Εγλωμ, dative)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕγλωμEglondative indirect object (recipient; indeclinable, articular)Εγλωμ: Eglon, recipient of the tribute (dative marked by τῷ).
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Εγλωμβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): 'king'; in apposition, supplying case and title.
Μωαβof Moabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Moab')Μωαβ: Moab.
καὶand / nowconjunction (introducing the parenthetical aside)καί: here introducing a circumstantial/parenthetical clause ('now Eglon was...'), a Hebraistic use of waw to attach a descriptive note.
ΕγλωμEglonsubject of the nominal clause (indeclinable proper noun)Εγλωμ: Eglon, subject of the characterizing nominal clause; the name עֶגְלוֹן may itself evoke עֵגֶל ('calf'), suiting the 'fatted' description.
ἀνὴρmanNominativepredicate nominative (in nominal clause: 'was a man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; predicate of the nominal clause describing Eglon.
ἀστεῖοςstout / fineNominativepredicate adjective (modifying ἀνὴρ)ἀστεῖος: lit. 'of the city / urbane / handsome / fine'; the LXX's rendering of בָּרִיא ('fat / well-fed'); here euphemistic for Eglon's obesity, ironically dignified language that sets up the grotesque image of v. 22 where the fat closes over the blade.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying ἀστεῖος)σφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies ἀστεῖος ('very stout'), emphasizing the extreme corpulence essential to the death-scene.
18
καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα συνετέλεσεν Αωδ προσφέρων τὰ δῶρα καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν τοὺς φέροντας τὰ δῶρα
And it came about, when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, that he sent away those who carried the tribute.
The καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα construction (rendering וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר) marks a temporal pivot. Ehud dismisses the tribute-bearers, isolating himself — a necessary narrative move to enable the private return and assassination of vv. 19–22.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came aboutAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aorist (event-marker)γίνομαι: in καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ('and it came to pass when'), rendering וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר; a temporal discourse-marker introducing the next scene.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunctionἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the temporal clause marking the completion of the tribute-presentation.
συνετέλεσενhe finishedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist (completed action)συντελέω: 'complete / finish / bring to an end'; renders כִּלָּה; with the supplementary participle προσφέρων ('finished presenting'), a Greek construction of completion.
ΑωδEhudsubject of συνετέλεσεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, subject of the temporal clause.
προσφέρωνpresentingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · προσφέρωsupplementary participle (with συνετέλεσεν: 'finished presenting')→ imperfective present (the ongoing act being completed)προσφέρω: 'present / offer'; the present participle complements συντελέω, denoting the activity that Ehud brings to completion; repeats the verb of v. 17.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δῶρα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δῶραtributeAccusativeobject of προσφέρωνδῶρον (pl. δῶρα): 'tribute / gifts'; the object of the presentation, repeated from vv. 15, 17.
καὶand / thenconjunction (apodosis-marker after temporal clause)καί: the apodotic καί ('then'), a Hebraism resuming the main line after the ἡνίκα-clause (waw of apodosis).
ἐξαπέστειλενhe sent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (dismissing the bearers)→ constative aoristἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; Ehud dispatches the tribute-porters homeward, deliberately separating himself from his retinue to return alone — the narrative isolation required for the secret killing.
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantivizing φέροντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φέρονταςcarrying / bearersPres Act Part Acc Masc Pl · φέρωsubstantival participle (object of ἐξαπέστειλεν: 'those carrying')→ imperfective present (those engaged in carrying)φέρω: 'carry / bear'; the substantivized present participle τοὺς φέροντας ('the bearers') denotes the porters of the tribute, now dismissed.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δῶρα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δῶραtributeAccusativeobject of φέρονταςδῶρον (pl. δῶρα): 'tribute'; the threefold repetition of δῶρα in vv. 17–18 keeps the tribute-pretext prominent until the dismissal clears the stage for the killing.
19
καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπέστρεψεν ἀπὸ τῶν γλυπτῶν τῶν μετὰ τῆς Γαλγαλ καὶ εἶπεν Αωδ λόγος μοι κρύφιος πρὸς σέ βασιλεῦ καὶ εἶπεν Εγλωμ πρὸς αὐτόν σιώπα καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἀφ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ πάντας τοὺς ἐφεστῶτας ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν
And he himself turned back from the carved images that were at Gilgal, and said, 'Ehud has a secret word for you, O king.' And Eglon said to him, 'Silence!' And he sent away from himself all who stood by him.
Ehud turns back alone from the γλυπτά ('carved images') near Gilgal and gains a private audience by announcing a λόγος ... κρύφιος ('secret word'). Eglon's command σιώπα ('be silent') and his dismissal of the attendants (ἐξαπέστειλεν ... πάντας τοὺς ἐφεστῶτας) leave him alone and vulnerable — the ruse works precisely because of the king's curiosity.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive subject pronounαὐτός: the intensive αὐτός ('he himself') sets Ehud apart from the dismissed bearers — he alone returns, the lone agent of the plot.
ὑπέστρεψενturned backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑποστρέφωmain verb (the lone return)→ constative aoristὑποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; Ehud reverses course at the boundary-marker (the carved images near Gilgal) to seek a second, private audience — the pivot from official mission to covert action.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (point of turning back)ἀπό: 'from'; marks the place (the carved images) from which Ehud turns back.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with γλυπτῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γλυπτῶνcarved images / idolsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόγλυπτόν: 'carved image / graven idol'; renders פְּסִילִים; the carved stones/idols near Gilgal serve as a topographical landmark (and a subtle reminder of the idolatry that began the cycle, v. 7); recurs at v. 26 (τὰ γλυπτά).
τῶνthe (that were)Genitivearticle (attributive: 'the ones at Gilgal')ὁ: the repeated article τῶν μετὰ τῆς Γαλγαλ functions attributively ('those near Gilgal'), localizing the images.
μετὰwith / bypreposition + genitive (location: 'near/by Gilgal')μετά + gen.: lit. 'with'; here loosely 'by / near' (a Hebraistic rendering of אֵת/עִם in a locative sense), placing the images in the vicinity of Gilgal.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Γαλγαλ)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλγαλGilgalgenitive object of μετά (indeclinable, articular)Γαλγαλ: transliteration of גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal); indeclinable; the sacred site near Jericho where Israel first encamped (Josh 4–5); the article τῆς supplies the genitive function.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces Ehud's pretextual announcement of a secret message.
ΑωδEhudsubject of εἶπεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, the speaker.
λόγοςword / messageNominativesubject of nominal clause ('a word [is] for me')λόγος: 'word / message / matter'; renders דָּבָר; the phrase λόγος μοι κρύφιος ('I have a secret word/matter') is the bait; λόγος is repeated at v. 20 as λόγος θεοῦ ('word of God'), escalating the pretext to a divine oracle.
μοιfor me / I haveDativedative of possession ('a word is to me' = 'I have a word')ἐγώ (dat. μοι): the dative of possession in λόγος μοι ('I have a word'), a normal Greek idiom rendering the Hebrew possessive construction.
κρύφιοςsecretNominativeattributive adjective (modifying λόγος)κρύφιος: 'hidden / secret'; renders סֵתֶר / סוֹד; the 'secret word' is the lure that induces Eglon to dismiss his guards; secrecy is the operative theme of the assassination.
πρὸςfor / topreposition + accusative (recipient of the word)πρός + acc.: 'to / for'; marks Eglon as the intended recipient of the secret word.
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the king addressed)σύ (acc. σέ): 'you'; the emphatic accusative pronoun addressing Eglon directly.
βασιλεῦO kingVocativevocative of direct addressβασιλεύς (voc. βασιλεῦ): 'O king'; the deferential vocative reinforces the courtly pretense that masks Ehud's intent.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Eglon's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces Eglon's one-word command.
ΕγλωμEglonsubject of εἶπεν (indeclinable proper noun)Εγλωμ: Eglon, the speaker of the command for silence.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρός + acc.: 'to'; marks Ehud as the addressee.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Ehud)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
σιώπαbe silent / hushPres Act Impv 2 Sg · σιωπάωmain verb (Eglon's imperative)→ imperfective present imperative (command to keep silence)σιωπάω: 'be silent / keep quiet'; renders הָס; Eglon's command 'Hush!' is addressed to the attendants (to clear the room for the secret), and ironically silences the court at the very moment of his doom.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαπέστειλενhe sent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (dismissing the attendants)→ constative aoristἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; Eglon dismisses all his attendants, fatally isolating himself with Ehud — the king's own act of privacy delivers him to the assassin.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from himself')ἀπό (elided ἀφ᾿): 'from'; with the reflexive ἑαυτοῦ, 'from himself' = from his own presence.
ἑαυτοῦhimselfGenitivereflexive pronoun (object of ἀφ᾿)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; ἀφ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ ('from himself') marks Eglon dismissing the attendants from his own presence.
πάνταςallAccusativeadjective (modifying τοὺς ἐφεστῶτας)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the dismissal leaves Eglon entirely alone with Ehud.
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantivizing ἐφεστῶτας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐφεστῶταςstanding by / attendantsPerf Act Part Acc Masc Pl · ἐφίστημιsubstantival participle (object of ἐξαπέστειλεν: 'those standing by')→ resultative perfect (those in attendance/posted)ἐφίστημι: 'stand by / be posted over'; the perfect participle οἱ ἐφεστῶτες ('those standing by / attendants') denotes the courtiers/guards in attendance; their dismissal removes the last obstacle to the killing.
ἐπ᾿by / overpreposition + accusative (with ἐφεστῶτας: 'standing over/by him')ἐπί (elided ἐπ᾿) + acc.: 'over / by'; with ἐφεστῶτας it denotes those posted in attendance upon the king.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (Eglon, attended upon)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
20
καὶ Αωδ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ ὑπερῴῳ τῷ θερινῷ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ μονώτατος καὶ εἶπεν Αωδ λόγος θεοῦ μοι πρὸς σέ βασιλεῦ καὶ ἐξανέστη ἀπὸ τοῦ θρόνου Εγλωμ ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ
And Ehud came in to him while he was sitting in his cool upper room, quite alone; and Ehud said, 'I have a word of God for you, O king.' And Eglon rose up from the throne, near him.
The scene narrows to the king alone (μονώτατος, 'utterly alone') in his ὑπερῷον θερινόν ('cool upper room'). Ehud escalates the pretext from λόγος κρύφιος (v. 19) to λόγος θεοῦ ('word of God'); Eglon, in reverence for the divine word, rises from his throne — the very movement (ἐξανέστη ... ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ) that brings him within striking range and exposes his belly.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑωδEhudsubject of εἰσῆλθεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, who now enters the king's private chamber.
εἰσῆλθενcame in / enteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entering the chamber)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; Ehud enters the upper room where Eglon sits alone — the threshold of the assassination.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; marks Eglon as the one approached.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Eglon)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶand / whileconjunction (introducing circumstantial clause)καί: here introducing a circumstantial/concomitant clause ('while he was sitting'), a Hebraistic waw.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject pronoun (Eglon)αὐτός: refers to Eglon, the subject of the circumstantial 'was sitting' clause.
ἐκάθητοwas sittingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιverb of circumstantial clause (background)→ imperfect (durative background state)κάθημαι: 'sit / be seated'; the imperfect ἐκάθητο gives the durative background — Eglon was seated in his chamber when Ehud entered; the relaxed posture heightens his vulnerability.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὑπερῴῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπερῴῳupper roomDativedative of place (where Eglon sat)ὑπερῷον: 'upper room / roof-chamber'; renders עֲלִיָּה; the elevated, private chamber — typically the coolest, most secluded room — recurs at vv. 23, 24, 25 as the locked death-room.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θερινῷ, attributive)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θερινῷcool / summerDativeattributive adjective (modifying ὑπερῴῳ)θερινός: 'of summer / for summer use'; renders (עֲלִיַּת) הַמְּקֵרָה ('the cool roof-chamber'); the 'summer upper room' is the ventilated retreat where the king takes his ease, isolated from the household.
τῷthe (his)Dativearticle (with ἑαυτοῦ, possessive)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive genitive of possession (his own chamber)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; τῷ ἑαυτοῦ ('his own') stresses the privacy — this is the king's personal chamber, where he is least guarded.
μονώτατοςall aloneNominativepredicative adjective (superlative: 'quite alone')μόνος (superl. μονώτατος): 'alone / solitary', superlative 'utterly alone'; the emphatic superlative underscores the total isolation of Eglon — no guard, no witness — the precondition the whole ruse has engineered.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces Ehud's escalated pretext.
ΑωδEhudsubject of εἶπεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, the speaker.
λόγοςwordNominativesubject of nominal clause ('a word of God [is] for me')λόγος: 'word / message'; now λόγος θεοῦ ('word of God'), an escalation from the κρύφιος ('secret') word of v. 19; the claim of a divine oracle is what prompts the reverent king to rise.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of source (with λόγος: 'word of God')θεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; λόγος θεοῦ ('a word of God') frames the message as a divine oracle; the religious claim induces Eglon's fatal gesture of respect (rising from the throne).
μοιfor me / I haveDativedative of possession ('I have a word')ἐγώ (dat. μοι): dative of possession ('a word of God is to me' = 'I have a word of God'); parallels v. 19.
πρὸςfor / topreposition + accusative (recipient)πρός + acc.: 'to / for'; Eglon as recipient of the 'word of God'.
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςσύ (acc. σέ): 'you'; the king addressed.
βασιλεῦO kingVocativevocative of direct addressβασιλεύς (voc. βασιλεῦ): 'O king'; the deferential address repeated from v. 19, maintaining the courtly facade.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξανέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξανίστημιmain verb (Eglon's fatal rising)→ ingressive aorist (the act of standing up)ἐξανίστημι: 'rise up / stand up'; Eglon rises from his throne in deference to the announced 'word of God' — the gesture of reverence that fatally brings him to his feet and within Ehud's reach, exposing his belly to the thrust of v. 21.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the throne')ἀπό: 'from'; marks the throne as the seat from which Eglon rises.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θρόνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θρόνουthroneGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόθρόνος: 'throne / seat'; renders כִּסֵּא; Eglon's rising 'from the throne' marks both his royal dignity and, ironically, the loss of the seated security in which a guarded king would be safest.
ΕγλωμEglonsubject of ἐξανέστη (indeclinable, in postposition)Εγλωμ: Eglon, the subject who rises; named here to make the fatal movement explicit.
ἐγγὺςnearadverb/preposition (proximity: 'near him')ἐγγύς: 'near / close'; the note ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ ('near him') marks the lethal proximity — Eglon, rising, stands within arm's reach of Ehud, setting up the single decisive thrust.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive with ἐγγὺς ('near him' = near Ehud)αὐτός: refers to Ehud; Eglon now stands near him — the spatial detail that enables the assassination.
21
καὶ ἐγένετο ἅμα τῷ ἀναστῆναι αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξέτεινεν Αωδ τὴν χεῖρα τὴν ἀριστερὰν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν μάχαιραν ἐπάνωθεν τοῦ μηροῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ δεξιοῦ καὶ ἐνέπηξεν αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτοῦ
And it came about, as he rose, that Ehud stretched out his left hand and took the dagger from off his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.
The killing is narrated in a tight three-verb sequence (ἐξέτεινεν ... ἔλαβεν ... ἐνέπηξεν) synchronized to Eglon's rising (ἅμα τῷ ἀναστῆναι). The crucial details all pay off: the left hand (τὴν ἀριστεράν) draws from the right thigh (τοῦ μηροῦ ... τοῦ δεξιοῦ) — the unsearched side — and drives the blade into the belly (κοιλίᾳ).
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came aboutAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aorist (event-marker)γίνομαι: in καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass'), the temporal discourse-marker introducing the climactic action, here synchronized with Eglon's rising.
ἅμαat the same time asadverb/preposition (simultaneity, with articular infinitive)ἅμα: 'at the same time / together with'; with the articular infinitive τῷ ἀναστῆναι it forms a temporal phrase ('as he rose / at his rising'), marking the precise synchronization of the thrust with Eglon's standing up.
τῷthe (at)Dativearticle with articular infinitive (temporal, with ἅμα)ὁ (dat. τῷ): the dative article governing the infinitive ἀναστῆναι, forming a temporal articular infinitive ('at the rising').
ἀναστῆναιto rise / risingAor Act Inf · ἀνίστημιarticular infinitive (temporal, with ἅμα τῷ)→ constative aorist infinitiveἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; the articular infinitive ἅμα τῷ ἀναστῆναι αὐτόν ('as he rose') renders the Hebrew temporal infinitive construct; Eglon's rising is the trigger-moment of the strike.
αὐτὸνhe (him)Accusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive (Eglon)αὐτός: the accusative subject of ἀναστῆναι ('that he rose'), i.e. Eglon.
καὶand / thenapodotic conjunction (after temporal clause)καί: apodotic καί ('then'), resuming the main narrative line after the temporal ἅμα-clause.
ἐξέτεινενstretched outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκτείνωmain verb (first of the killing-sequence)→ constative aoristἐκτείνω: 'stretch out / extend'; renders שָׁלַח (the hand); the first move of the assassination — Ehud reaches out with his left hand, the unexpected hand for a draw.
ΑωδEhudsubject of the killing-sequence verbs (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, the agent of the strike.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἐξέτεινενχείρ: 'hand'; the hand-motif of the chapter reaches its concrete climax — the left hand draws the dagger, fulfilling the ἀμφοτεροδέξιος characterization of v. 15.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀριστερὰν, attributive)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀριστερὰνleftAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying χεῖρα: 'left hand')ἀριστερός: 'left'; renders שְׂמֹאל; the 'left hand' is the narrative payoff of Ehud's left-handedness — it reaches across to the dagger on the right thigh, a move no guard anticipated.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Ehud's hand)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (second of the killing-sequence)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take / grasp'; Ehud seizes the concealed dagger from the right thigh — the second beat of the swift sequence.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with μάχαιραν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μάχαιρανdaggerAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενμάχαιρα: 'dagger'; the two-edged blade of v. 16, now drawn for use; the article τήν marks it as the previously described weapon.
ἐπάνωθενfrom off / from aboveadverb/preposition + genitive (source: 'from off the thigh')ἐπάνωθεν: 'from above / from off'; with the genitive τοῦ μηροῦ, 'from off his thigh' — the dagger is drawn up from where it was strapped (v. 16).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with μηροῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηροῦthighGenitivegenitive object of ἐπάνωθενμηρός: 'thigh'; the right thigh from which the concealed blade is drawn, exactly as fastened in v. 16.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Ehud's thigh)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with δεξιοῦ, attributive)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεξιοῦrightGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying μηροῦ: 'right thigh')δεξιός: 'right'; the 'right thigh' detail (cf. v. 16) is repeated at the moment of the draw, confirming the cleverness of the concealment that the left hand now exploits.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνέπηξενthrust / drove inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπήγνυμιmain verb (third and decisive beat: the stab)→ constative aorist (the fatal blow)ἐμπήγνυμι: 'fix in / drive in / plunge'; renders תָּקַע; the climactic verb — Ehud drives the blade deep into Eglon's belly; the force of the thrust sets up v. 22, where even the hilt sinks in.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of ἐνέπηξεν (the dagger)αὐτός: refers to the μάχαιρα; 'thrust it in'.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (locative: 'into the belly')ἐν + dat.: here of the place penetrated ('into the belly'), a Hebraistic locative.
τῇtheDativearticle (with κοιλίᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλίᾳbellyDativedative of place (ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ: 'in/into the belly')κοιλία: 'belly / abdomen'; renders בֶּטֶן; the target of the thrust; the obese belly (cf. ἀστεῖος σφόδρα, v. 17) will engulf the blade entirely in v. 22.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Eglon's belly)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
22
καὶ ἐπεισήνεγκεν καί γε τὴν λαβὴν ὀπίσω τῆς φλογός καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν τὸ στέαρ κατὰ τῆς φλογός ὅτι οὐκ ἐξέσπασεν τὴν μάχαιραν ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Αωδ τὴν προστάδα
And he drove in the hilt as well after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and Ehud went out through the vestibule.
The grotesque physical detail: even the hilt (λαβή) follows the blade (φλόξ, lit. 'flame', for the gleaming blade) into the body, and the fat (στέαρ) closes over it because Ehud leaves the weapon embedded (οὐκ ἐξέσπασεν). The macabre realism is unique to this assassination scene. Ehud then exits through the προστάς (vestibule/porch).
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπεισήνεγκενhe brought in upon / drove in afterAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπεισφέρωmain verb (driving in the hilt)→ constative aoristἐπεισφέρω: 'bring in besides / drive in after'; the doubly-compounded verb (ἐπι- + εἰσ- + φέρω) graphically conveys that the hilt too was forced in after the blade; the depth of penetration is the point — the whole weapon vanishes into the body.
καίalso / evenadverbial intensifier (with γε: 'even/indeed')καί: here adverbial ('also / even'), combining with γε to form the emphatic καί γε ('even / indeed'), a Hebraism rendering וְגַם.
γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί)γε: enclitic emphatic particle; καί γε ('even indeed') is the LXX's stock rendering of the Hebrew emphatic וְגַם, heightening the shocking detail that even the hilt went in.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with λαβὴν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαβὴνhilt / handleAccusativedirect object of ἐπεισήνεγκενλαβή: 'handle / hilt / grip'; renders נִצָּב; that the hilt itself entered the wound conveys the violence of the thrust and the depth allowed by Eglon's corpulence — the blade was buried to the haft.
ὀπίσωafter / behindadverb/preposition + genitive ('after the blade')ὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; with the genitive τῆς φλογός, 'after the blade' — the hilt followed the blade into the wound.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φλογός)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φλογόςblade (lit. flame)Genitivegenitive object of ὀπίσωφλόξ (gen. φλογός): lit. 'flame'; here metonymically the gleaming, flame-like blade of the dagger (rendering לַהַב, which means both 'flame' and 'blade'); the LXX preserves the Hebrew double sense — the 'flame' is the polished cutting edge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέκλεισενclosed over / shut inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκλείωmain verb (the fat closes over the blade)→ constative aoristἀποκλείω: 'shut up / close over / enclose'; renders סָגַר; the fat 'closed over' the blade — a vivid image of the weapon swallowed by the obese body; the same verb is used of locking the doors at v. 23, an ironic verbal link.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with στέαρ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στέαρfatNominativesubject of ἀπέκλεισενστέαρ: 'fat / suet'; renders חֵלֶב; the king's fat is the grotesque agent that closes over the blade; στέαρ is also the cultic word for the sacrificial fat burned to YHWH — a darkly ironic note, as the 'fatted' tyrant becomes a kind of offering.
κατὰover / down uponpreposition + genitive ('over/down upon the blade')κατά + gen.: 'down over / upon'; the fat closed down over the blade, sealing the wound around the embedded weapon.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φλογός)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φλογόςbladeGenitivegenitive object of κατὰφλόξ (gen. φλογός): the blade again (lit. 'flame'); the fat closed κατὰ τῆς φλογός ('over the blade'), hiding it entirely within the body.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the explanatory clause — the fat could close over the blade because Ehud did not withdraw it.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐξέσπασεν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξέσπασενhe drew outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκσπάωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (negated)ἐκσπάω: 'draw out / pull out'; renders שָׁלַף; Ehud deliberately left the blade embedded (οὐκ ἐξέσπασεν), preventing both a tell-tale gush and the noise of withdrawal — a calculated detail enabling his quiet escape.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with μάχαιραν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μάχαιρανdaggerAccusativedirect object of ἐξέσπασενμάχαιρα: 'dagger'; left in the body, the weapon remains as the silent instrument of death, discovered only when the corpse is found (v. 25).
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source: 'out of the belly')ἐκ: 'out of / from'; marks the belly as the place from which the blade was not withdrawn.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with κοιλίας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλίαςbellyGenitivegenitive object of ἐκκοιλία: 'belly'; repeats the target-noun of v. 21; the blade stays buried in Eglon's belly.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Eglon's belly)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Ehud's exit)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / exit'; Ehud departs the chamber through the vestibule; the accusative τὴν προστάδα marks the route of exit (accusative of way/path).
ΑωδEhudsubject of ἐξῆλθεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, who now makes his escape.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with προστάδα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προστάδαvestibule / porchAccusativeaccusative of way (route of exit: 'through the vestibule')προστάς (acc. προστάδα): 'porch / vestibule / antechamber'; a rare architectural term; the accusative denotes the path by which Ehud exits (accusative of extent/way); the obscure word reflects the B-text's literalistic handling of a difficult Hebrew term (מִסְדְּרוֹן).
23
καὶ ἐξῆλθεν τοὺς διατεταγμένους καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν τὰς θύρας τοῦ ὑπερῴου κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσφήνωσεν
And he went out past the posted guards and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and bolted them.
Ehud slips past the posted attendants (τοὺς διατεταγμένους), shuts and bolts (ἐσφήνωσεν) the doors of the upper room behind him. The locked door buys the delay (vv. 24–25) that allows his escape. The verb ἀπέκλεισεν ('shut') echoes the fat that 'closed over' the blade (v. 22).
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (passing the guards)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; here with the accusative τοὺς διατεταγμένους meaning 'went out past/through the posted [guards]' — Ehud passes the attendants unsuspected and departs.
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantivizing διατεταγμένους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διατεταγμένουςthe posted ones / attendantsPerf Mid/Pass Part Acc Masc Pl · διατάσσωsubstantival participle (object/path of ἐξῆλθεν: 'past those posted')→ resultative perfect (those stationed/appointed)διατάσσω: 'arrange / appoint / post'; the perfect passive participle οἱ διατεταγμένοι ('those posted/stationed') denotes the appointed attendants or guards Ehud passes on his way out; the accusative marks them as the obstacle traversed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέκλεισενshutAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκλείωmain verb (shutting the doors)→ constative aoristἀποκλείω: 'shut / close / lock'; renders סָגַר; Ehud closes the doors behind him; the same verb described the fat 'closing over' the blade (v. 22), a deliberate verbal echo binding wound and door.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoorsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκλεισενθύρα: 'door'; renders דֶּלֶת; the doors of the upper room, locked behind Ehud; the closed doors become the focus of the servants' fatal hesitation (vv. 24–25).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ὑπερῴου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπερῴουupper roomGenitivegenitive of possession (the doors of the upper room)ὑπερῷον: 'upper room'; repeats the setting of v. 20; its doors, now bolted, conceal the king's corpse.
κατ᾿behind / uponpreposition + genitive ('behind/against him')κατά (elided κατ᾿) + gen.: here 'behind / upon / against', i.e. the doors shut 'behind him' (κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ), sealing the room with the king inside.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of κατ᾿ ('behind him')αὐτός: refers to Ehud (the doors shut behind him) — or, ambiguously, upon Eglon; the phrase κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ leaves the king sealed within.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐσφήνωσενhe bolted / wedged shutAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σφηνόωmain verb (locking/bolting)→ constative aoristσφηνόω: 'wedge / bolt / fasten with a peg'; from σφήν ('wedge'); Ehud wedges/bolts the doors fast; the verb (and its perfect participle ἐσφηνωμέναι, v. 24) explains why the servants assumed the king had locked himself in for privacy.
24
καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξῆλθεν καὶ οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ εἰσῆλθον καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ αἱ θύραι τοῦ ὑπερῴου ἐσφηνωμέναι καὶ εἶπαν μήποτε ἀποκενοῖ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ταμιείῳ τῷ θερινῷ
And when he had gone out, his servants came and looked, and behold, the doors of the upper room were bolted; and they said, 'Surely he is relieving himself in the cool chamber.'
The servants find the doors bolted (ἐσφηνωμέναι) and draw the wrong inference — the euphemistic ἀποκενοῖ τοὺς πόδας ('covering/relieving his feet') assumes the king is at the privy. Their decorous hesitation (vv. 24–25) gives Ehud the time to escape; the bawdy euphemism injects grim comedy into the scene.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativeintensive subject pronoun (Ehud)αὐτός: 'he himself' (Ehud); marks the subject-shift back to Ehud's departure before the servants enter.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Ehud's departure)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; Ehud has departed; his exit and the servants' entrance are juxtaposed to mark the narrow timing of the escape.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativesubject of εἰσῆλθονπαῖς (pl. παῖδες): 'servant / attendant / boy'; renders עֲבָדִים; Eglon's household servants, who now return and discover the locked doors.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Eglon's servants)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰσῆλθονcame in / enteredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (servants' entrance)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'come in / enter'; the servants enter (the antechamber/area) and observe the bolted doors of the inner upper room.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶδονthey sawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (perception)→ constative aoristὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see / look'; introduces the discovery; followed by the presentational ἰδού highlighting what they perceive.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with ἰδοὺ)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentational particle (deictic)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the deictic particle dramatizes the servants' viewpoint, presenting the locked doors as they appear to them.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with θύραι)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραιdoorsNominativesubject of the presentational clause (with ἐσφηνωμέναι)θύρα: 'door'; the doors of v. 23, now seen bolted; their closed state is the visual datum that triggers the servants' misinterpretation.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ὑπερῴου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπερῴουupper roomGenitivegenitive of possession (the doors of the upper room)ὑπερῷον: 'upper room'; the death-chamber, its doors bolted.
ἐσφηνωμέναιbolted / wedged shutPerf Mid/Pass Part Nom Fem Pl · σφηνόωpredicate participle (periphrastic: 'were bolted')→ resultative perfect (the doors in a settled state of being locked)σφηνόω (perf. pass. ptc. ἐσφηνωμέναι): 'wedge/bolt shut'; the perfect participle denotes the doors' resultant locked condition; cognate with ἐσφήνωσεν (v. 23); their bolted state is precisely what makes the servants assume the king wants privacy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (servants' speech)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν): 'say'; introduces the servants' euphemistic inference about the king's privacy.
μήποτεsurely / perhapsparticle (introducing a cautious supposition)μήποτε: 'lest / perhaps / surely'; here introducing a tentative supposition ('he must be...'), rendering the Hebrew אַךְ; the servants reassure themselves with a decorous guess.
ἀποκενοῖhe is relieving himselfPres Act Subj/Opt 3 Sg · ἀποκενόωverb of the supposition clause→ potential present (cautious conjecture)ἀποκενόω: lit. 'empty out'; here a euphemism for relieving the bowels; the phrase ἀποκενοῖ τοὺς πόδας ('empties/covers his feet') renders the Hebrew idiom מֵסִיךְ אֶת רַגְלָיו ('covering his feet' = relieving himself, cf. 1 Sam 24:3); the decorous euphemism is darkly comic, since the king is dead.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πόδας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativedirect object of ἀποκενοῖ (in the euphemism)πούς (pl. πόδας): 'foot'; in the Hebrew euphemism 'covering the feet' (the long robe covering the legs while squatting) = relieving oneself; the LXX renders the idiom literally, preserving its delicacy.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's feet)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ταμιείῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταμιείῳchamber / inner roomDativedative of place (where the king is supposed to be)ταμιεῖον: 'storeroom / inner chamber / private room'; renders חֶדֶר; here the private 'cool chamber' (= the ὑπερῷον θερινόν of v. 20), where the servants imagine the king is taking his privacy.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θερινῷ, attributive)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θερινῷcool / summerDativeattributive adjective (modifying ταμιείῳ)θερινός: 'cool / summer'; the same epithet as v. 20 (ὑπερῷον θερινόν), confirming that the 'cool chamber' is the upper room where Eglon lies dead.
25
καὶ ὑπέμειναν ἕως ᾐσχύνοντο καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἀνοίγων τὰς θύρας τοῦ ὑπερῴου καὶ ἔλαβον τὴν κλεῖδα καὶ ἤνοιξαν καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ κύριος αὐτῶν πεπτωκὼς ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τεθνηκώς
And they waited until they were ashamed; and behold, there was no one opening the doors of the upper room; and they took the key and opened them, and behold, their lord had fallen to the ground, dead.
The servants' embarrassed waiting (ἕως ᾐσχύνοντο, 'until they were ashamed') completes the delay; finally they take the key and discover their lord (ὁ κύριος αὐτῶν — here 'master', not the Tetragrammaton) fallen dead. The double ἰδού frames their dawning realization. By now Ehud is gone (v. 26).
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑπέμεινανthey waitedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὑπομένωmain verb (the waiting)→ constative aoristὑπομένω: 'wait / remain / endure'; the servants wait outside the locked doors out of deference, prolonging the interval that secures Ehud's escape.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunctionἕως: 'until'; introduces the temporal limit of their waiting ('until they were ashamed').
ᾐσχύνοντοthey were ashamed / embarrassedImpf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · αἰσχύνωverb of temporal clause→ imperfect (growing embarrassment)αἰσχύνω (mid./pass. ᾐσχύνοντο): 'be ashamed / be embarrassed'; the imperfect conveys the mounting awkwardness of waiting too long; the idiom ἕως ᾐσχύνοντο ('until they were ashamed/at a loss') renders עַד בּוֹשׁ ('until embarrassment'), i.e. they waited to the point of awkward delay.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with ἰδοὺ)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentational particleἰδού: 'behold'; dramatizes the servants' realization that no one is opening the doors from within.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential, in the presentational clause)→ imperfective present (vivid 'historic present' of existence)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; the existential οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἀνοίγων ('there is no one opening') is a vivid present within past narration, conveying the servants' realization from their viewpoint that no one unlocks the doors.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing ἀνοίγων)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνοίγωνopening / one who opensPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · ἀνοίγωsubstantival participle (subject of ἔστιν: 'no one opening')→ imperfective present (the act of opening)ἀνοίγω: 'open'; the substantivized participle ὁ ἀνοίγων ('the one opening') — there is no such person, because the king lies dead; sets up the servants' decision to fetch the key.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoorsAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίγωνθύρα: 'door'; the bolted doors of the upper room, which no one inside opens.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ὑπερῴου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπερῴουupper roomGenitivegenitive of possession (the doors of the upper room)ὑπερῷον: 'upper room'; the death-chamber, finally to be opened by key.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβονthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (taking the key)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; the servants take the key to force the issue, finally overriding their deferential hesitation.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κλεῖδα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλεῖδαkeyAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβονκλείς (acc. κλεῖδα): 'key'; renders מַפְתֵּחַ; the key by which the bolted doors are opened, revealing the corpse.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤνοιξανthey openedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀνοίγωmain verb (opening the doors)→ constative aoristἀνοίγω: 'open'; the servants open the doors — the moment of grim discovery; cognate with ὁ ἀνοίγων above, closing the small ring of the 'opening' motif.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with ἰδοὺ)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentational particle (second occurrence)ἰδού: 'behold'; the second ἰδού dramatizes the horror of the discovery — the lord lying dead.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςlord / masterNominativesubject of the presentational clauseκύριος: here NOT the Tetragrammaton but the ordinary sense 'lord / master' — ὁ κύριος αὐτῶν ('their master') is Eglon, the servants' human sovereign; rendering אֲדֹנֵיהֶם; the article + possessive make the human-master reference unambiguous.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the servants' master)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πεπτωκὼςfallenPerf Act Part Nom Masc Sg · πίπτωpredicate participle (periphrastic/circumstantial: 'had fallen')→ resultative perfect (lying in a fallen state)πίπτω (perf. ptc. πεπτωκώς): 'fall'; the perfect participle denotes the resultant state — Eglon lies fallen on the ground; combined with τεθνηκώς it forms a stark tableau of the slain king.
ἐπὶon / topreposition + accusative ('onto the ground')ἐπί + acc.: 'upon / to'; marks where the king has fallen — to the ground.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶγῆ: 'ground / earth'; the floor of the chamber; the once-enthroned king now lies on the ground, an image of total reversal.
τεθνηκώςdeadPerf Act Part Nom Masc Sg · θνῄσκωpredicate participle (resultative: 'dead')→ resultative perfect (the settled state of death)θνῄσκω (perf. ptc. τεθνηκώς): 'be dead / have died'; the perfect participle expresses the completed, abiding state — Eglon is dead; the pairing πεπτωκὼς ... τεθνηκώς ('fallen ... dead') closes the assassination with bleak finality.
26
καὶ Αωδ διεσώθη ἕως ἐθορυβοῦντο καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ προσνοῶν αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτὸς παρῆλθεν τὰ γλυπτὰ καὶ διεσώθη εἰς Σετιρωθα
And Ehud escaped while they were in confusion, and there was no one paying attention to him; and he passed by the carved images and escaped to Seirah.
The double διεσώθη ('escaped'), framing the verse, emphasizes the success of the getaway during the servants' confusion (ἐθορυβοῦντο). Ehud passes the same γλυπτά (carved images, cf. v. 19) that marked his turning-back, and reaches Seirah, his rallying-point for v. 27.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑωδEhudsubject of διεσώθη (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, who makes good his escape while attention is diverted.
διεσώθηescaped / was deliveredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · διασῴζωmain verb (the escape)→ constative aorist passive ('got safely away')διασῴζω (aor. pass. διεσώθη): 'bring safely through / escape / be delivered'; the intensive compound (δια- + σῴζω) of σῴζω (the deliverance-verb of v. 9); ironically the σωτήρ now 'is saved' himself, framing the verse (διεσώθη ... διεσώθη).
ἕωςwhile / untiltemporal conjunctionἕως: 'while / until'; here 'while / during the time that' the servants were in confusion — the window for escape.
ἐθορυβοῦντοthey were in confusion / in an uproarImpf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · θορυβέωverb of temporal clause→ imperfect (ongoing commotion)θορυβέω (mid./pass. ἐθορυβοῦντο): 'be in an uproar / be agitated / be thrown into confusion'; the imperfect depicts the servants' protracted commotion on finding the king dead; their disorder covers Ehud's flight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἦν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential, imperfect)→ imperfect (durative state of affairs)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; the existential οὐκ ἦν ὁ προσνοῶν ('there was no one attending') explains why no pursuit was mounted — in the confusion no one noticed Ehud.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing προσνοῶν)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσνοῶνpaying attention / taking noticePres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · προσνοέωsubstantival participle (subject of ἦν: 'no one noticing')→ imperfective present (the act of paying heed)προσνοέω: 'give heed to / pay attention to / take notice of'; a rare verb; ὁ προσνοῶν αὐτῷ ('the one heeding him') — there was none, so Ehud slips away unobserved.
αὐτῷhim / to himDativedative object of προσνοῶναὐτός: dative complement of προσνοέω ('attend to him'); refers to Ehud, whom no one heeds.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive subject pronoun (Ehud)αὐτός: 'he himself'; emphasizes Ehud's unimpeded passage past the landmark.
παρῆλθενpassed byAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παρέρχομαιmain verb (passing the images)→ constative aoristπαρέρχομαι: 'pass by / go past'; Ehud passes the carved images (the landmark of v. 19) on his way to safety, retracing his route in reverse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with γλυπτὰ)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γλυπτὰcarved images / idolsAccusativedirect object of παρῆλθενγλυπτόν (pl. γλυπτά): 'carved images / idols'; the same landmark of v. 19 (τὰ γλυπτὰ τὰ μετὰ τῆς Γαλγαλ); passing them marks Ehud's crossing back into safe territory.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διεσώθηescaped / got safelyAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · διασῴζωmain verb (reaching safety)→ constative aorist passiveδιασῴζω: 'escape / come safely through'; the repetition (διεσώθη ... διεσώθη) frames the verse and stresses that Ehud has fully gotten clear, reaching his rallying-point unharmed.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς + acc.: 'to / into'; marks Seirah as the place of refuge reached.
ΣετιρωθαSeirahaccusative of destination (indeclinable place name)Σετιρωθα: transliteration of שְׂעִירָתָה / הַשְּׂעִירָה (Seirah); indeclinable; an otherwise unknown locality in the hill country of Ephraim, from which Ehud sounds the trumpet (v. 27).
27
καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἦλθεν Αωδ εἰς γῆν Ισραηλ καὶ ἐσάλπισεν ἐν κερατίνῃ ἐν τῷ ὄρει Εφραιμ καὶ κατέβησαν σὺν αὐτῷ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους καὶ αὐτὸς ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν
And it came about, when Ehud came into the land of Israel, that he blew the ram's-horn trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was at their head.
With the king dead, Ehud sounds the κερατίνη (ram's-horn) in the hill country of Ephraim to muster Israel. The militia descends 'with him' (σὺν αὐτῷ) and he leads from the front (ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν), the deliverer now a battlefield commander — turning the private assassination into a national deliverance.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came aboutAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aorist (event-marker)γίνομαι: in καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ('and it came to pass when'); the temporal formula introducing the muster-scene.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunctionἡνίκα: 'when'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר / בְּבוֹאוֹ; introduces the temporal clause of Ehud's arrival.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; Ehud's arrival in Israelite territory is the trigger for the muster.
ΑωδEhudsubject of ἦλθεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, returned safely to Israel.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς + acc.: 'into'; marks the land of Israel as Ehud's destination.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςγῆ: 'land'; γῆν Ισραηλ ('the land of Israel') — safe home territory from which to rally the militia.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'land of Israel')Ισραηλ: here qualifying γῆν as 'the land of Israel'.
καὶand / thenapodotic conjunction (after temporal clause)καί: apodotic καί ('then'), resuming the main line after the ἡνίκα-clause.
ἐσάλπισενhe blew the trumpetAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σαλπίζωmain verb (sounding the muster-call)→ constative aoristσαλπίζω: 'sound the trumpet / give a signal-blast'; renders תָּקַע (בַּשּׁוֹפָר); the trumpet-blast is the standard signal for mustering the militia (cf. 6:34); it converts Ehud's solitary deed into a corporate campaign.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with a horn')ἐν + dat.: here instrumental ('with / on the horn'), rendering the Hebrew בְּ of instrument.
κερατίνῃram's-horn trumpetDativedative of instrument (with ἐσάλπισεν)κερατίνη: 'horn (trumpet)', from κέρας ('horn'); the LXX's rendering of שׁוֹפָר ('ram's-horn / shofar'); the signal-instrument for war-musters and alarms.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν + dat.: here locative ('in the hill country').
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὄρει)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειmountain / hill countryDativedative of place (ἐν τῷ ὄρει: 'in the hill country')ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; renders הַר; 'the hill country of Ephraim' is the central highland staging-ground for the muster; the same noun recurs (ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους) later in the verse.
Εφραιμof Ephraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'hill country of Ephraim')Εφραιμ: transliteration of אֶפְרַיִם (Ephraim); indeclinable; the central tribal territory whose highlands serve as the rallying-ground.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβησανthey went downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (the militia descends)→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; the militia descends from the highlands toward the Jordan valley to engage Moab; the verb is repeated in Ehud's command at v. 28 (κατάβητε).
σὺνwithpreposition + dative (accompaniment)σύν + dat.: 'with / together with'; marks the militia's descent in company with their leader Ehud.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of σὺν (Ehud)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of κατέβησανυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, here the mustered militia of Israel.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοὶ)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source of descent)ἀπό: 'from'; marks the hill country as the starting point of the descent.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ὄρους)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςhill countryGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸὄρος: 'hill country'; the Ephraimite highlands from which the militia descends to the valley.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing circumstantial clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject of the verbless clause ('he [was] at their head')αὐτός: 'he' (Ehud); subject of the nominal clause depicting him leading from the front.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / at the head ofadverb/preposition + genitive ('in front of them')ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of / before / at the head of'; with the genitive αὐτῶν, 'at their head' — Ehud leads the militia personally, the deliverer turned field-commander.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive with ἔμπροσθεν ('at the head of them')αὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
28
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς κατάβητε ὀπίσω μου ὅτι παρέδωκεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἡμῶν τὴν Μωαβ ἐν χειρὶ ἡμῶν καὶ κατέβησαν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ προκατελάβοντο τὰς διαβάσεις τοῦ Ιορδάνου τῆς Μωαβ καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν ἄνδρα διαβῆναι
And he said to them, 'Come down after me, for the LORD God has given our enemies, Moab, into our hand.' And they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against Moab, and they did not let a man cross over.
Ehud's battle-speech grounds the action theologically (παρέδωκεν κύριος ὁ θεός, 'the LORD God has given') — the standard holy-war formula. The militia seizes the Jordan fords (τὰς διαβάσεις), cutting off the Moabite retreat to Transjordan; οὐκ ἀφῆκεν ἄνδρα διαβῆναι ('let no man cross') seals the trap, echoing ironically the ἀφῆκεν of v. 1 (the nations YHWH 'left').
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (battle-speech introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces Ehud's command and holy-war declaration to the militia.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρός + acc.: 'to'; marks the militia as addressees.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςαὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κατάβητεcome downAor Act Impv 2 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (military command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive order to advance)καταβαίνω (aor. impv. κατάβητε): 'come down / descend'; the imperative orders the militia to follow Ehud down to the Jordan; echoes κατέβησαν of v. 27.
ὀπίσωafteradverb/preposition + genitive ('after me')ὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; with the genitive μου, 'after me' — follow my lead; recurs (ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ) as the militia obeys.
μουmeGenitivegenitive with ὀπίσω ('after me')μου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the theological ground of the command — YHWH has already granted the victory.
παρέδωκενhas given overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of causal clause (holy-war formula)→ constative aorist (proleptic: victory as good as accomplished)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; the holy-war formula παρέδωκεν κύριος ('the LORD has given [the enemy] into our hand'), repeating the verb of Othniel's victory (v. 10); the aorist is proleptic — the outcome is certain because YHWH has decreed it.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκενκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; YHWH as the giver of victory; the appositive ὁ θεός reinforces the covenant identity.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς, in apposition to κύριος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος ('the LORD God')θεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεός ('the LORD God') renders יהוה (אֱלֹהִים); the full divine title underscores that the war is YHWH's and its outcome assured.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐχθροὺς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθροὺςenemiesAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκενἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile one'; renders אֹיֵב; the Moabites, named appositively as 'our enemies, Moab'; the object handed into Israel's hand.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἐχθροὺς)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Μωαβ, in apposition to ἐχθροὺς)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜωαβMoabaccusative in apposition to ἐχθροὺς (indeclinable, articular, fem.)Μωαβ: Moab, here construed as feminine (τὴν Μωαβ — the nation/land personified); in apposition to 'our enemies', specifying the foe given into Israel's hand.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'into the hand of')ἐν + dat.: in ἐν χειρὶ ἡμῶν ('into our hand'), rendering בְּיָדֵנוּ; the hand-idiom of victory, reversing Israel's earlier delivery 'into the hand' of the oppressors.
χειρὶhandDativedative with ἐν (idiomatic: 'into the power')χείρ: 'hand / power'; the recurring hand-motif, now denoting Israel's victorious grasp over Moab.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (Israel's hand)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβησανthey went downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (obedient descent)→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the militia obeys Ehud's command (κατάβητε), descending after him to the Jordan.
ὀπίσωafteradverb/preposition + genitive ('after him')ὀπίσω: 'after'; with αὐτοῦ, 'after him' — the militia follows Ehud, fulfilling his command ὀπίσω μου.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive with ὀπίσω ('after him')αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προκατελάβοντοthey seized beforehandAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · προκαταλαμβάνωmain verb (tactical seizure)→ constative aoristπροκαταλαμβάνω (mid. προκατελάβοντο): 'seize in advance / occupy beforehand'; the doubly-compounded verb (προ- + κατα- + λαμβάνω) stresses the pre-emptive tactic — Israel seizes the fords before the Moabites can flee, cutting off their retreat to Transjordan.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with διαβάσεις)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαβάσειςfords / crossingsAccusativedirect object of προκατελάβοντοδιάβασις (pl. διαβάσεις): 'crossing / ford'; renders מַעְבְּרוֹת; the Jordan fords — the strategic chokepoints whose seizure traps the Moabite forces west of the river.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive (the fords of the Jordan)Ιορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): 'Jordan'; declined as a first-declension noun in the LXX; the river whose fords Israel seizes to block the Moabite retreat.
τῆςthe (against)Genitivearticle (with Μωαβ)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Μωαβof/against Moabgenitive (indeclinable: the fords 'belonging to / over against' Moab)Μωαβ: Moab; the genitive τῆς Μωαβ specifies the fords as those facing/leading to Moab (the eastern crossings toward Moabite territory), the escape-route now blocked.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀφῆκεν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀφῆκενlet / allowedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίημιmain verb (the blockade)→ constative aorist (negated)ἀφίημι: 'let / permit / allow'; οὐκ ἀφῆκεν ('did not allow') a man to cross seals the trap; ironically the same verb that opened the chapter (ἀφῆκεν κύριος, v. 1, the nations YHWH 'left') now denotes Israel's refusal to 'let' a single Moabite escape.
ἄνδραa manAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive διαβῆναιἀνήρ (acc. ἄνδρα): 'man'; the accusative subject of the infinitive ('did not let a man cross'); 'not a man' stresses the totality of the blockade.
διαβῆναιto cross overAor Act Inf · διαβαίνωcomplementary infinitive (with ἀφῆκεν)→ aoristic infinitive (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; cognate with διάβασις ('ford'); the infinitive completes ἀφῆκεν ('did not allow to cross'); no Moabite escapes back across the Jordan.
29
καὶ ἐπάταξαν τὴν Μωαβ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὡσεὶ δέκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν πᾶν λιπαρὸν καὶ πάντα ἄνδρα δυνάμεως καὶ οὐ διεσώθη ἀνήρ
And they struck Moab on that day, about ten thousand men, every robust one and every man of valor; and not a man escaped.
The decisive defeat: about ten thousand Moabites are struck down (ἐπάταξαν, the verb Eglon used against Israel at v. 13, now reversed). πᾶν λιπαρόν ('every robust/fat one') ironically echoes the fat king (ἀστεῖος σφόδρα, v. 17), and οὐ διεσώθη ἀνήρ ('not a man escaped') is the bleak counter-image to Ehud's own διεσώθη (v. 26).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξανthey struckAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πατάσσωmain verb (the defeat of Moab)→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite / defeat'; the verb Eglon's coalition used against Israel (v. 13) now turns against Moab — a precise reversal of fortunes; recurs at v. 31 of Shamgar against the Philistines.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Μωαβ)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜωαβMoabaccusative object of ἐπάταξαν (indeclinable, articular, fem.)Μωαβ: Moab (fem., τὴν Μωαβ — the nation/army); the object of the slaughter.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν + dat.: here temporal ('on that day').
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ: 'on that day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') renders בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, a standard formula marking a decisive day of battle; recurs at v. 30.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative pins the slaughter to the decisive day of deliverance.
ὡσεὶabout / approximatelyadverb of approximation (with the numeral)ὡσεί: 'about / approximately / as it were'; renders כְּ; qualifies the round figure 'ten thousand' as an estimate of the slain.
δέκαtenindeclinable numeral (with χιλιάδας)δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable; with χιλιάδας forms 'ten thousand'.
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the number struck: 'ten thousand')χιλιάς (pl. χιλιάδας): 'a thousand / unit of a thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; δέκα χιλιάδας ('ten thousand') quantifies the Moabite dead, a round number signifying a crushing, total defeat.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivepartitive/descriptive genitive (with χιλιάδας: 'thousand of men')ἀνήρ (gen. pl. ἀνδρῶν): 'man'; the genitive specifies the ten thousand as fighting men.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeadjective (with λιπαρὸν: 'every robust one')πᾶς: 'every / all'; the neuter πᾶν agrees with λιπαρόν; emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the slaughter — all the able-bodied fell.
λιπαρὸνrobust / stout oneAccusativesubstantivized adjective (object: 'every stout/lusty man')λιπαρός: lit. 'fat / sleek / well-fed', hence 'robust / vigorous'; renders שָׁמֵן ('fat / stout'); ironically echoes Eglon's own obesity (ἀστεῖος σφόδρα, v. 17) — the 'fat' king's 'robust' warriors all fall; the term denotes the strong, prosperous fighting men.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάνταeveryAccusativeadjective (with ἄνδρα: 'every man')πᾶς: 'every'; the masculine πάντα agrees with ἄνδρα; the parallel πᾶν ... πάντα construction stresses the totality of the Moabite military loss.
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object (parallel to λιπαρὸν: 'every man of valor')ἀνήρ (acc. ἄνδρα): 'man'; in the phrase ἄνδρα δυνάμεως ('man of power/valor'), a Hebraism (אִישׁ חַיִל) for a capable warrior.
δυνάμεωςof valor / powerGenitivegenitive of quality (with ἄνδρα: 'man of valor')δύναμις (gen. δυνάμεως): 'power / strength / might'; ἄνδρα δυνάμεως ('man of valor') renders אִישׁ חַיִל, the idiom for a strong, capable soldier; the genitive of quality describes the elite of Moab's fighters, all slain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐnotnegative particle (with διεσώθη)οὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διεσώθηescapedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · διασῴζωmain verb (the totality of the defeat)→ constative aorist passive (negated)διασῴζω (aor. pass. διεσώθη): 'escape / be brought safely through'; the same verb that twice described Ehud's own escape (v. 26) now negated of Moab (οὐ διεσώθη ἀνήρ, 'not a man escaped') — a pointed reversal sealing the completeness of the rout.
ἀνήρa manNominativesubject of διεσώθη ('not a man escaped')ἀνήρ: 'man'; 'not a man escaped' — the absolute negation underscores the totality of the Moabite annihilation at the fords.
30
καὶ ἐνετράπη Μωαβ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὑπὸ χεῖρα Ισραηλ καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ὀγδοήκοντα ἔτη καὶ ἔκρινεν αὐτοὺς Αωδ ἕως οὗ ἀπέθανεν
And Moab was subdued on that day under the hand of Israel; and the land was at rest eighty years; and Ehud judged them until he died.
The cycle closes with the rest-formula (ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ... ἔτη), now eighty years — double Othniel's forty, the longest peace in the chapter. Moab is subdued ὑπὸ χεῖρα Ισραηλ ('under Israel's hand'), the final reversal of the hand-motif. Ehud's tenure (ἔκρινεν ... ἕως οὗ ἀπέθανεν) frames the deliverance and prepares for the next relapse.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνετράπηwas subdued / humbledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐντρέπωmain verb (Moab's subjugation)→ constative aorist passiveἐντρέπω (aor. pass. ἐνετράπη): 'turn back / put to shame / subdue / humble'; renders נִכְנַע ('be humbled / subdued'); the passive depicts Moab brought low under Israel's power — the decisive reversal of the eighteen-year oppression.
ΜωαβMoabsubject of ἐνετράπη (indeclinable proper noun)Μωαβ: Moab, the subject now humbled; the oppressor becomes the vanquished.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν + dat.: temporal ('on that day').
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time ('on that day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') repeats the battle-day formula of v. 29, binding subjugation to slaughter.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the decisive day of Moab's defeat.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (subjection: 'under the hand of')ὑπό + acc.: 'under'; in ὑπὸ χεῖρα Ισραηλ ('under the hand of Israel'), the idiom of subjection — Moab now under Israel's power.
χεῖραhandAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπὸ (idiomatic: 'under the power of')χείρ: 'hand / power'; the climactic turn of the hand-motif — once Israel was sold 'into the hand' of oppressors (vv. 8, 14), now Moab is 'under the hand' of Israel.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'hand of Israel')Ισραηλ: here qualifying χεῖρα ('the hand of Israel').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡσύχασενwas at restAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἡσυχάζωmain verb (rest-formula)→ constative aorist (the whole peace-period)ἡσυχάζω: 'be at rest / be quiet'; the closing rest-formula ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ, verbatim from v. 11, now with eighty years — the longest peace in the chapter, marking the success of Ehud's deliverance.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἡσύχασενγῆ: 'land'; the land personified as enjoying rest, as at v. 11.
ὀγδοήκονταeightyindeclinable numeral (with ἔτη)ὀγδοήκοντα: 'eighty'; indeclinable; double Othniel's forty (v. 11) — two ideal generations of peace, the longest tranquility of the cycles in this chapter.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; accusative of duration ('eighty years').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκρινενjudgedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (Ehud's tenure)→ constative aorist (the whole period of his judgeship)κρίνω: 'judge / govern'; as of Othniel (v. 10), denoting Ehud's governance of Israel through the years of peace; the office-verb that names the book.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἔκρινεν (Israel)αὐτός: refers to the Israelites, whom Ehud judges.
ΑωδEhudsubject of ἔκρινεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: Ehud, who governs Israel until his death.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (with οὗ: 'until')ἕως: 'until'; with the relative οὗ forms the temporal conjunction ἕως οὗ ('until the time that').
οὗwhich / thatGenitiverelative pronoun (with ἕως: 'until')ὅς (gen. οὗ): the relative in the fixed phrase ἕως οὗ ('until'), a standard temporal idiom.
ἀπέθανενhe diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of temporal clause (the judge's death)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; as of Othniel (v. 11), the death-notice closes the judge's cycle; Ehud's tenure lasts to his death, after which the Shamgar notice (v. 31) and a new relapse follow.
31
καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτὸν ἀνέστη Σαμεγαρ υἱὸς Διναχ καὶ ἐπάταξεν τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους εἰς ἑξακοσίους ἄνδρας ἐν τῷ ἀροτρόποδι τῶν βοῶν καὶ ἔσωσεν καί γε αὐτὸς τὸν Ισραηλ
And after him arose Shamgar son of Anath, and he struck the Philistines, six hundred men, with the oxgoad; and he too saved Israel.
A terse, formulaic note on a 'minor judge': Shamgar son of Anath strikes six hundred Philistines with a single farm implement (ἀροτρόπους, 'oxgoad'), a detail emphasizing improbable, YHWH-given victory. The concluding ἔσωσεν ... τὸν Ισραηλ ('he saved Israel'), with the emphatic καί γε αὐτός ('he too'), assimilates Shamgar to the savior-judges and closes the chapter, bridging to the Deborah cycle.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μετ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'after him')μετά (elided μετ᾿) + acc.: 'after'; μετ᾿ αὐτόν ('after him', i.e. after Ehud) marks the chronological succession of Shamgar.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of μετ᾿ (Ehud)αὐτός: refers to Ehud; Shamgar arises after Ehud's death.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (the rise of the judge)→ ingressive aorist (came onto the scene)ἀνίστημι (aor. ἀνέστη): 'arise / stand up / appear'; renders קוּם / הָיָה; the verb introducing a new deliverer onto the scene; the intransitive aorist marks Shamgar's emergence as Israel's champion.
ΣαμεγαρShamgarsubject of ἀνέστη (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμεγαρ: transliteration of שַׁמְגַּר (Shamgar); indeclinable; a 'minor judge' named only here and at 5:6; the non-Israelite-sounding name and the Anath patronymic suggest foreign or borderland associations.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (genealogical)υἱός: in the patronymic 'son of Anath', nominative agreeing with Σαμεγαρ.
Διναχof Anath / Dinahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Anath')Διναχ: the B-text's transliteration of the patronymic (Hebrew בֶּן עֲנָת, 'son of Anath'); indeclinable; 'Anath' (Διναχ in this Greek form) may be a place-name (Beth-anath) or the goddess-name Anath, hinting at Shamgar's non-Israelite background.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενhe struckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (Shamgar's exploit)→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; the verb of military defeat (cf. vv. 13, 29); here Shamgar single-handedly strikes down six hundred Philistines, an exploit of YHWH-given prowess.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἀλλοφύλους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλουςPhilistines / foreignersAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξενἀλλόφυλος: 'foreigner', the LXX's standard term for the Philistines (cf. v. 3); the Philistines are here the new threat, anticipating the Samson cycle; Shamgar's victory over them is the first Philistine engagement in Judges.
εἰςto the number of / aboutpreposition + accusative (extent of number: 'to the count of')εἰς + acc.: here marking numerical extent ('up to / to the number of'), a Hellenistic usage; εἰς ἑξακοσίους ἄνδρας = 'to the count of six hundred men'.
ἑξακοσίουςsix hundredAccusativenumeral adjective (modifying ἄνδρας)ἑξακόσιοι: 'six hundred'; renders שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת; the round number magnifies the improbability of the feat — six hundred slain with a farm tool, underscoring divine enablement.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative (the number struck: 'six hundred men')ἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; the six hundred Philistine warriors slain by Shamgar.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with the oxgoad')ἐν + dat.: instrumental ('with / by means of'), rendering the Hebrew בְּ of instrument.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἀροτρόποδι)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀροτρόποδιoxgoad / plow-pointDativedative of instrument (with ἐπάταξεν)ἀρότροπους (dat. ἀροτρόποδι): lit. 'plow-foot', i.e. the iron-tipped goad/plowstaff used to drive oxen; renders מַלְמַד הַבָּקָר ('oxgoad'); the humble agricultural implement as weapon underscores the marvel of the victory — like Samson's jawbone (15:15).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with βοῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βοῶνof oxen / cattleGenitivegenitive (defining the goad: 'of the oxen')βοῦς (gen. pl. βοῶν): 'ox / head of cattle'; renders בָּקָר; ἀροτρόποδι τῶν βοῶν ('the oxgoad of the cattle') specifies the goad as the cattle-driving implement — emphatically a farm tool, not a weapon of war.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσωσενhe savedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (the deliverance)→ constative aoristσῴζω: 'save / deliver'; the deliverance-verb of v. 9 (ἔσωσεν); assimilates Shamgar to the savior-judges; the chapter-closing note ('he too saved Israel') gives this minor figure full deliverer-status.
καίalso / evenadverbial intensifier (with γε: 'he too')καί: adverbial ('also / even'); with γε and αὐτός forms καί γε αὐτός ('he too / he himself also'), a Hebraism (וְגַם הוּא) stressing that Shamgar, like Othniel and Ehud before him, was a genuine deliverer.
γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί)γε: enclitic emphatic particle; καί γε ('even indeed') renders the emphatic Hebrew גַּם, here heightening 'he too saved Israel'.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive subject pronoun (with καί γε)αὐτός: intensive 'he himself'; with καί γε underscores Shamgar's inclusion among the saviors of Israel despite the brevity of his notice.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἔσωσεν (indeclinable, articular)Ισραηλ: the final word of the chapter; the object of Shamgar's deliverance, closing the unit on the note of salvation that recurs through the cycles (vv. 9, 31) and bridging to the Deborah-Barak narrative of chs. 4–5.