This verse begins with a Hebrew waw conjunction that Revised Standard Version omits. Some versions say “Thus” or “Also” here, though in some languages a simple “And” (New International Version) may also be appropriate.

The Amorites persisted in dwelling …: As in the previous verse, word order demonstrates that it is the enemies of Israel, The Amorites, who continue to dominate. In an almost ironic way, readers or listeners realize that the tribe that was supposed to occupy the territory, the tribe of Dan, is not even mentioned! Instead, there is a reference to the descendants of Joseph, whose territory lay directly north of what was supposed to be the Danite region. The Danite region eventually came under the influence of the Ephraimites during the reigns of David and Solomon. It is possible that this verse may reflect conditions much later than those at the time of the judges.

Persisted is the same verb used in verse 1.27 (see comments there).

In Har-heres, in Aijalon, and in Sha-albim gives the names of the places that the Amorites controlled and refused to give up. Har-heres means “Mount Heres” or literally, “Mountain of the Sun.” Aijalon and Sha-albim refer to cities in the territories allotted to Dan and Ephraim. Aijalon was designated as a Levitical city (verse 21.24) and was located about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) northwest of Jerusalem. Sha-albim was also northwest of Jerusalem.

But the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily upon them: But renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, marking here an important contrast. We might say “However.” Some versions also add a time phrase (“later” or “later on”) to indicate there may have been a lapse in time before the Israelites forced the Amorites to work for them.

The hand of the house of Joseph is of course a metaphor in which hand refers to “power” or “control.” This is one of almost a hundred occurrences of the word “hand” in this book, which is especially in focus when an enemy of Israel is defeated.

The phrase the house of Joseph closes the inclusio that began at verse 1.22 (see comments there). Good News Translation renders this figure of speech explicitly as “the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.” We might also say “the descendants of Joseph,” “the clans of Joseph,” or “the tribe of Joseph.” What is important is to use the same expression as in verse 1.22, so the literary repetition in the inclusio is evident.

Rested heavily renders a Hebrew verb that is literally “was heavy.” This verb is different from the one translated “grew strong” in verse 1.28. In some languages the figurative language of the Bible can be maintained, while in others, equivalent expressions will need to be found. Some might translate this clause as “but the arm of the Joseph tribe constrained them” or “but the strength of the clan of Joseph weighed down on the Amorites.” Otherwise, the translator may have to eliminate the figurative language, and simply say “Later on, the descendants of Joseph became more powerful.”

And they became subject to forced labor: See comments on verse 1.30. Despite the resistance and determination of the Amorites, eventually the descendants of Joseph were able to subjugate them. The pronoun they refers to the Amorites.

We can render this verse in the following manner:

• The Amorites maintained their hold on the towns of Har-heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. However, the clans of Joseph eventually became more powerful than the Amorites and forced them to work for them.

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 .