OET interlinear JDG 9:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

וַ⁠יַּגִּ֣דוּ לְ⁠יוֹתָ֗ם

and,told to,Jotham

Here, they is an indefinite pronoun that does not have a specific referent in the immediate context. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this with a different expression that does not use an indefinite pronoun. Alternate translation: “And Jotham was told about this”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יַּגִּ֣דוּ לְ⁠יוֹתָ֗ם

and,told to,Jotham

The author is leaving some information implicit that he assumes readers will understand. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “And they declared to Jotham that the leaders of Shechem had made Abimelek their king”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בְּ⁠רֹ֣אשׁ הַר־גְּרִזִ֔ים

in/on/at/with,top mount Gərizīm

The author seems to mean that Jotham stood atop a rocky crag, several hundred feet high, that overlooked Shechem, rather than on the very summit of Mount Gerizim. From there the leaders of Shechem could have heard him but he would have been safe from capture. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “on a crag high up on Mount Gerizim”

Note 4 topic: translate-symaction

הַר־גְּרִזִ֔ים

mount Gərizīm

Jotham choosing Mount Gerizim as the place from which to shout his message was a symbolic action. In Deuteronomy 11:29 and Deuteronomy 27:12–26, Moses had commanded the Israelites to proclaim blessings for keeping Yahweh’s law from Mount Gerizim and curses for breaking Yahweh’s law from the facing Mount Ebal. Joshua 8:32–34 records how Joshua carried out this command. So the location was a reminder of how the people of Israel would be blessed if they remained faithful to Yahweh and cursed if they did not. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action. Alternate translation: “Mount Gerizim, opposite where curses had been proclaimed against unfaithfulness to Yahweh”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וַ⁠יִּשָּׂ֥א קוֹל֖⁠וֹ וַ⁠יִּקְרָ֑א

and,raised voice,his and=he/it_called

The author is using a common expression that means that Jotham spoke very loudly. (The rocky cliffs in this area would have amplified and projected his voice.) If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and in a loud voice he cried out”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שִׁמְע֤וּ אֵלַ⁠י֙ בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם וְ⁠יִשְׁמַ֥ע אֲלֵי⁠כֶ֖ם אֱלֹהִֽים

listen to=me masters Shekem and,listen to,you_all ʼElohīm

Jotham is making a threat that he assumes the lords of Shechem will understand. He is implicitly threatening that God will not listen to their prayers if they do not listen to him, since God has sent him to them with a message. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “If you do not listen to me, you lords of Shechem, then God will not listen to you when you pray, because I am bringing you a message from God”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

שִׁמְע֤וּ & אֲלֵי⁠כֶ֖ם

listen & to,you_all

Here and through the end of Jotham’s speech in verse 20, the pronouns you and “your” are plural and the imperative verbs have plural forms because Jotham is addressing a group of people, the lords of Shechem. So use plural forms in your translation if your language marks that distinction.