en_tn/jdg/05/08.md

they chose new gods

The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "the people of Israel worshiped new gods" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)

there was fighting at the city gates

Here "gates" represents the entire city. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "enemies attacked the people within the Israelite cities" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)

there were no shields or spears seen among forty thousand in Israel

This statement is probably an exaggeration about how few weapons the Israelites had. Alternate translation: "few weapons for battle remained in Israel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole)

forty thousand in Israel

"40,000 in Israel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers)