With the introduction of “enemy” in verse 11, verse 12 develops the image of the military.
His troops come on together: troops translates a word meaning “companies,” which are here God’s companies of soldiers. For similar military images see 10.17; 16.14; 30.12. The same expression occurs in 25.3. Come on together means these troops are advancing in the attack or, as Good News Translation says, “He sends his army to attack me.” Because these troops have not been mentioned before, it will often help stylistically to keep God as the subject, as in Good News Translation, “God sends his army to attack me,” or “God attacks me with companies of soldiers.”
They have cast up siegeworks against me translates the Hebrew “And they heap up against me in their way.” This may refer to attacking forces digging under or piling up dirt against a wall in order to overrun it, which is the meaning of siegeworks. This line has been given many different interpretations, and many scholars consider Revised Standard Version‘s rendering largely guesswork. Some interpreters take this line to be an explanation of 30.12b added by copyists, and so delete it. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates this line in the Hebrew text as an “A” reading, and accordingly it should not be deleted. Bible en français courant avoids the idea of siegeworks by translating “They lay down a road in order to reach me.” Translators may follow this, or the models of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, since nothing better has been convincingly presented. Translators may adapt Revised Standard Version‘s rendering to say, for example, “They are preparing to overrun me,” “They tunnel through to reach me,” or “They are getting ready to attack my position.”
And encamp round about my tent: the figure of siegeworks in line b is not appropriate for line c, since an attack on a tent would hardly use such methods. However, regardless of the military tactics in line b, in line c the enemy troops are camped around his tent. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy places this line at the beginning of line b and says “They camp around my house and prepare the attack.” Translators may find this a suitable way to relate line c to line b.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .