But the people, the men of Israel, took courage …: But renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction here. Despite what happened, the Israelites were not discouraged. They continued fighting. The Hebrew word for people (ʿam) is often used to refer to the people of Israel (see verse 2.4). Its use reminds the audience of all that Yahweh has done up to now for his people. The narrator quickly qualifies this word by adding the men of Israel, which refers more specifically to “the Israelite army” (Good News Translation). This phrase includes all the people except the Benjaminites. The Hebrew verb rendered took courage is literally “strengthened themselves” (see verse 7.11, where a different form of the verb is used). This verb describes the moral character of the Israelites. Instead of giving up after the huge defeat, they “rallied” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). We might also say they “did not lose courage” or “did not give up.” New International Version‘s “encouraged one another” does not seem strong enough to explain their determination at this point.

And again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day: The Israelites regrouped to fight again. They decided to go back to the same place and go into the same formation as the previous day. The audience will certainly wonder if this was a good strategy, in view of the previous day’s defeat. This detail may show how courageous and determined they were. Again formed the battle line is literally “they added to arrange [for] battle.” The Hebrew verb here is the same one rendered “drew up [the battle] line” in verse 20.20 (see comments there). The same verb is repeated in the next clause as well.

In the same place where they had formed it on the first day is literally “in the place that they arranged there on the first day.” This clause may be translated “in the same place they had lined up for battle the day before.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• Despite that, the Israelites renewed their courage and once again lined up for battle in the same place where they had stood on the first day.

• Nevertheless, the Israelite soldiers were courageous and took position in the same place as the previous day to fight [the Benjaminites] once again.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .