Suddenly the narrator calls the Levite a priest, and tells the audience how the Levite, with much assurance, and without consulting Yahweh, tells the Danites that Yahweh will be with them. Certainly the narrator is trying to show how the situation is continuing to deteriorate.

And the priest said to them: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “Then” or “So,” but many versions omit it (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). The general verb said may be rendered “replied” (New Revised Standard Version) or “answered” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) in this context.

Go in peace renders a traditional farewell greeting in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for peace (shalom) does not just refer to the absence of conflict, but also to well-being and prosperity (see verse 4.17). Thus Revised English Bible says renders this clause as “Go and prosper.” Good News Translation‘s “You have nothing to worry about” does not seem formal enough for this occasion. It would be better to say “Go, and may all be well” or “Go, and may God be with you.”

The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD is literally “In front of Yahweh is your way on which you go.” While in their request, the Danites speak of “God” (ʾelohim), the Levite tells them the LORD (YHWH), the God of Israel, will go with them. Despite this, the audience gets the feeling that the Levite is acting on his own. Ironically, the Levite is telling these men they are under the eye of the LORD, while the narrator makes the point that in Israel everyone is “doing what is right in their own eyes.” While it is possible the priest and the Danites are sincere, it is more likely there is irony here. Nevertheless, the words need to be rendered as they stand, for example, “Yahweh is blessing your way” or “Yahweh is with you—your trip will be successful.” If possible, translators should choose words that may express some irony.

Translation models for this verse are:

• So the priest reassured them and said, “Go in confidence. Yahweh himself is watching over your trip.”

• Then the priest said to the spies, “Yahweh is with you. Your journey is under his protection.”

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 .