When the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel is literally “And it was when spoke the messenger of Yahweh these words to all the sons/children of Israel.” Many versions omit the initial Hebrew word wayehi (“And it was”), but this expression plays an important role here, indicating a new paragraph. Translators can use any appropriate expression here. As in many languages, a temporal subordinate clause serves as a link between paragraphs. Contemporary English Version leaves this clause out of the translation, but there is no reason to justify this omission.
The angel of the LORD is one of the phrases that brackets this section, appearing both at the beginning (verse 2.1) and the end of this unit (verse 2.4). See comments on verse 2.1.
Spoke these words uses a Hebrew construction in which the verb for spoke and the noun for words come from the same root d-b-r, “to speak.” Though the term rendered words can also mean “things” or “affairs,” here it seems to refer to what the angel has just said. Translators might rather say “When the angel had finished saying this.”
For the people of Israel (literally “the sons/children of Israel”), see comments on verse 1.1.
The people lifted up their voices and wept: Though the Hebrew word translated people (ʿam) is at times used in reference to other peoples, it most commonly designates the people of Israel. It occurs often in Deuteronomy and Joshua, and very frequently (over sixty times) in this book, especially in the introduction (verse 1.16; 2.4, 6, 7, 12), the Song of Deborah (verse 5.2, 9, 11, 13, 14, 18), and in the appendices (verse 20.10; verse 21.9). Lifted up their voices and wept renders an idiomatic expression in Hebrew that refers to a strong outburst of crying and weeping, which might occur at the announcement of a death or other troubling news. But it is also often used to describe the people’s response to the LORD. In this context lifted up their voices may be rendered “cried out.” Wept means the people shed tears, probably with cries of sadness or sobbing. Together the verbal phrases convey a scene of utter desolation. However, the text does not say why the people wept. Whether they repented or not cannot be determined from the text. In some languages one verbal expression, such as “wept loudly” or “broke out crying,” may suffice.
Suggested models for this verse are:
• When the LORD’s messenger had said these words, all the people of Israel cried out [in sorrow/desolation] and wept aloud.
• After the angel of the LORD had finished saying this, all the Israelites wept bitterly.
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 .