The sonsבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלdidוַיַּעֲשׂוּwhat was evilהָרַעin the eyesבְּעֵינֵיof YHWH,יְהוָהand YHWHוַ יְהוָהgave themיִּתְּנֵםinto the handבְּיַדof Midianמִדְיָןsevenשֶׁבַעyears.שָׁנִים
The handיַדof Midianמִדְיָןwas strongוַתָּעָזoverעַלIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵלBecauseמִפְּנֵיof Midianמִדְיָןthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלmade for themselvesעָשׂוּ לָהֶםthe densאֶת הַמִּנְהָרוֹתthatאֲשֶׁרare in the mountains,בֶּהָרִיםthe caves,וְאֶת הַמְּעָרוֹתand the strongholds.וְאֶת הַמְּצָדוֹת
And wheneverוְהָיָה אִםIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלhad sown,זָרַעMidianמִדְיָןwould come up,וְעָלָהand Amalekוַעֲמָלֵקand the sonsוּבְנֵיof the east;קֶדֶםthey would come upוְעָלוּagainst him.עָלָיו
They would campוַיַּחֲנוּagainst themעֲלֵיהֶםand destroyוַיַּשְׁחִיתוּthe produceאֶת יְבוּלof the landהָאָרֶץas far asעַדyour comingבּוֹאֲךָto Gaza,עַזָּהand they would notוְלֹאleaveיַשְׁאִירוּsustenanceמִחְיָהin Israel,בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלneither lambוְשֶׂהnor oxוָשׁוֹרnor donkey.וַחֲמוֹר
Forכִּיtheyהֵםwould come upיַעֲלוּwith their livestockוּמִקְנֵיהֶםand their tents,וְאָהֳלֵיהֶםand they would comeוּבָאוּlike locustsכְדֵי אַרְבֶּהin multitude;לָרֹבboth theyוְלָהֶםand their camelsוְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶםwere withoutאֵיןnumber;מִסְפָּרand they cameוַיָּבֹאוּinto the landבָאָרֶץto destroy it.לְשַׁחֲתָהּ
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwas brought very lowוַיִּדַּל מְאֹדbecauseמִפְּנֵיof Midian,מִדְיָןand the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלcried outיִּזְעֲקוּtoאֶלYHWH.יְהוָה
Whenוַיְהִי כִּיthe sonsבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלcried outזָעֲקוּtoאֶלYHWHיְהוָהbecause ofעַל אֹדוֹתMidian,מִדְיָן
YHWHיְהוָהsentוַיִּשְׁלַחa man,אִישׁa prophet,נָבִיאtoאֶלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand he said to them,וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH,יְהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵל‘Iאָנֹכִיbrought you upהֶעֱלֵיתִי אֶתְכֶםfrom Egyptמִמִּצְרַיִםand brought you outוָאֹצִיא אֶתְכֶםof the houseמִבֵּיתof slaves.עֲבָדִים
I delivered youוָאַצִּל אֶתְכֶםfrom the handמִיַּדof Egyptמִצְרַיִםand from the handוּמִיַּדof allכָּלwho oppressed you;לֹחֲצֵיכֶםI drove them outוָאֲגָרֵשׁ אוֹתָםbefore youמִפְּנֵיכֶםand gaveוָאֶתְּנָהyouלָכֶםtheir land.אֶת אַרְצָם
And I saidוָאֹמְרָהto you,לָכֶם“Iאֲנִיam YHWHיְהוָהyour Elohim;אֱלֹהֵיכֶםyou shall notלֹאfearתִירְאוּthe godsאֶת אֱלֹהֵיof the Amorite,הָאֱמֹרִיin whose landאֲשֶׁר בְּאַרְצָםyouאַתֶּםlive.”יוֹשְׁבִיםBut you have notוְלֹאlistenedשְׁמַעְתֶּםto my voice.’”בְּקוֹלִי
The angelמַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהcameוַיָּבֹאand satוַיֵּשֶׁבunderתַּחַתthe oakהָאֵלָהthatאֲשֶׁרis in Ophrah,בְּעָפְרָהwhichאֲשֶׁרbelonged to Joashלְיוֹאָשׁthe Abiezrite,אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִיwhile Gideonוְגִדְעוֹןhis sonבְּנוֹwas beating outחֹבֵטwheatחִטִּיםin the winepressבַּגַּתto hide itלְהָנִיסfromמִפְּנֵיMidian.מִדְיָן
The angelמַלְּאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהappeared to himוַיֵּרָא אֵלָיוand said to him,וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו“YHWHיְהוָהis with you,עִמְּךָvaliantגִּבּוֹרwarrior.”הֶחָיִל
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsaid to him,וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו“Pardon,בִּיmy lord,אֲדֹנִיifוְיֵשׁYHWHיְהוָהis with us,עִמָּנוּwhyוְלָמָּהhas allכָּלthisזֹאתfound us?מְצָאַתְנוּAnd where areוְאַיֵּהallכָלhis wondersנִפְלְאֹתָיוthatאֲשֶׁרour fathersאֲבוֹתֵינוּrecounted to us,סִפְּרוּ לָנוּsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Did notהֲלֹאYHWHיְהוָהbring us upהֶעֱלָנוּfrom Egypt?’מִמִּצְרַיִםBut nowוְעַתָּהYHWHיְהוָהhas abandoned usנְטָשָׁנוּand given usוַיִּתְּנֵנוּinto the handבְּכַףof Midian.”מִדְיָן
YHWHיְהוָהturnedוַיִּפֶןto himאֵלָיוand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Goלֵךְin thisזֶהstrength of yoursבְּכֹחֲךָand saveוְהוֹשַׁעְתָּIsraelאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלfrom the handמִכַּףof Midian.מִדְיָןHave I notהֲלֹאsent you?”שְׁלַחְתִּיךָ
He said to him,וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו“Pardon,בִּיAdonai,אֲדֹנָיwith whatבַּמָּהshall I saveאוֹשִׁיעַIsrael?אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלLook,הִנֵּהmy thousandאַלְפִּיis the poorestהַדַּלin Manasseh,בִּמְנַשֶּׁהand Iוְאָנֹכִיam the leastהַצָּעִירin the houseבְּבֵיתof my father.”אָבִי
YHWHיְהוָהsaid to him,וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו“BecauseכִּיI will beאֶהְיֶהwith you,עִמָּךְyou will strikeוְהִכִּיתָMidianאֶת מִדְיָןas oneכְּ אֶחָדman.”אִישׁ
He said to him,וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו“IfאִםI have foundמָצָאתִיfavorחֵןin your eyes,בְּעֵינֶיךָpleaseנָאmakeוְעָשִׂיתָfor meלִּיa signאוֹתthatשָׁit is youאַתָּהwho are speakingמְדַבֵּרwith me.עִמִּי
Pleaseנָאdo notאַלdepartתָמֻשׁfrom hereמִזֶּהuntilעַדI comeבֹּאִיto youאֵלֶיךָand bring outוְהֹצֵאתִיmy offeringאֶת מִנְחָתִיand set itוְהִנַּחְתִּיbefore you.”לְפָנֶיךָHe said,וַיֹּאמַר“Iאָנֹכִיwill stayאֵשֵׁבuntilעַדyou return.”שׁוּבֶךָ
Gideonוְגִדְעוֹןwent inבָּאand preparedוַיַּעַשׂa young goatגְּדִי עִזִּיםand unleavened breadמַצּוֹתfrom an ephahוְאֵיפַתof flour;קֶמַחthe meatהַבָּשָׂרhe putשָׂםin the basket,בַּסַּלand the brothוְהַמָּרַקhe putשָׂםin the pot,בַּפָּרוּרand he brought them outוַיּוֹצֵאto himאֵלָיוunderאֶל תַּחַתthe oakהָאֵלָהand presented them.וַיַּגַּשׁ
The angelמַלְאַךְof Elohimהָאֱלֹהִיםsaid to him,וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו“Takeקַחthe meatאֶת הַבָּשָׂרand the unleavened breadוְאֶת הַמַּצּוֹתand set themוְהַנַּחonאֶלthisהַלָּזcrag,הַסֶּלַעand pour outשְׁפוֹךְthe broth.”וְאֶת הַמָּרַקAnd he didוַיַּעַשׂso.כֵּן
The angelמַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהreached outוַיִּשְׁלַחthe tipאֶת קְצֵהof the staffהַמִּשְׁעֶנֶתthatאֲשֶׁרwas in his handבְּיָדוֹand touchedוַיִּגַּעthe meatבַּבָּשָׂרand the unleavened bread;וּבַמַּצּוֹתand fireוַ הָאֵשׁwent upתַּעַלfromמִןthe rockהַצּוּרand consumedוַתֹּאכַלthe meatאֶת הַבָּשָׂרand the unleavened bread.וְאֶת הַמַּצּוֹתAnd the angelוּמַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהwentהָלַךְfrom his sight.מֵעֵינָיו
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsawוַיַּרְאthatכִּיheהוּאwas the angelמַלְאַךְof YHWH,יְהוָהand Gideonוַ גִּדְעוֹןsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Alas,אֲהָהּAdonaiאֲדֹנָיYHWH!יְהוִהForכִּיbecause of thisעַל כֵּןI have seenרָאִיתִיthe angelמַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהfaceפָּנִיםtoאֶלface.”פָּנִים
YHWHיְהוָהsaid to him,וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ“Peaceשָׁלוֹםto you;לְךָdo notאַלbe afraid;תִּירָאyou will notלֹאdie.”תָּמוּת
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןbuiltוַיִּבֶןthereשָׁםan altarמִזְבֵּחַto YHWHלַיהוָהand called itוַיִּקְרָא לוֹYHWHיְהוָהShalom.שָׁלוֹםToעַדthisהַזֶּהdayהַיּוֹםit is stillעוֹדֶנּוּin Ophrahבְּעָפְרָתof the Abiezrites.אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי
Thatהַהוּאnightוַיְהִי בַּלַּיְלָהYHWHיְהוָהsaid to him,וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ“Takeקַחthe bullאֶת פַּרof the oxenהַשּׁוֹרthat belongs to your father,אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיךָand the secondוּ הַשֵּׁנִיbull,פַרsevenשֶׁבַעyears old,שָׁנִיםand tear downוְהָרַסְתָּthe altarאֶת מִזְבַּחof Baalהַבַּעַלthatאֲשֶׁרbelongs to your father,לְאָבִיךָand cut downוְ תִּכְרֹתthe Asherahאֶת הָאֲשֵׁרָהthatאֲשֶׁרis beside it.עָלָיו
Then buildוּבָנִיתָan altarמִזְבֵּחַto YHWHלַיהוָהyour Elohimאֱלֹהֶיךָonעַלthe topרֹאשׁof thisהַזֶּהstronghold,הַמָּעוֹזin the proper order;בַּמַּעֲרָכָהand takeוְלָקַחְתָּthe secondהַשֵּׁנִיbullאֶת הַפָּרand offer itוְהַעֲלִיתָas a burnt offeringעוֹלָהwith the woodבַּעֲצֵיof the Asherahהָאֲשֵׁרָהthatאֲשֶׁרyou cut down.”תִּכְרֹת
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןtookוַיִּקַּחtenעֲשָׂרָהmenאֲנָשִׁיםfrom his servantsמֵעֲבָדָיוand didוַיַּעַשׂasכַּאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhad told him.דִּבֶּר אֵלָיוBut becauseוַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁרhe was afraid ofיָרֵאthe houseאֶת בֵּיתof his fatherאָבִיוand the menוְאֶת אַנְשֵׁיof the cityהָעִירto do itמֵעֲשׂוֹתby day,יוֹמָםhe did itוַיַּעַשׂby night.לָיְלָה
The menאַנְשֵׁיof the cityהָעִירrose earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּימוּin the morning,בַּבֹּקֶרand look,וְהִנֵּהthe altarמִזְבַּחof Baalהַבַּעַלwas torn down,נֻתַּץand the Asherahוְהָאֲשֵׁרָהthatאֲשֶׁרwas beside itעָלָיוwas cut down,כֹּרָתָהand the secondוְ הַשֵּׁנִיbullאֵת הַפָּרwas offeredהֹעֲלָהonעַלthe altarהַמִּזְבֵּחַthat had been built.הַבָּנוּי
They saidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלone another,אִישׁ רֵעֵהוּ“Whoמִיhas doneעָשָׂהthisהַזֶּהthing?”הַדָּבָרThey inquiredוַיִּדְרְשׁוּand searched,וַיְבַקְשׁוּand they said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsonבֶּןof Joashיוֹאָשׁhas doneעָשָׂהthisהַזֶּהthing.”הַדָּבָר
The menאַנְשֵׁיof the cityהָעִירsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלJoash,יוֹאָשׁ“Bring outהוֹצֵאyour son,אֶת בִּנְךָso that he may die,וְיָמֹתforכִּיhe has torn downנָתַץthe altarאֶת מִזְבַּחof Baalהַבַּעַלandוְhas cut downכִי כָרַתthe Asherahהָאֲשֵׁרָהthatאֲשֶׁרwas beside it.”עָלָיו
Joashיוֹאָשׁsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto allלְכֹלwhoאֲשֶׁרstoodעָמְדוּaround him,עָלָיו“Are youהַאַתֶּםgoing to contendתְּרִיבוּןfor Baal?לַבַּעַלOr are youאִם אַתֶּםgoing to save him?תּוֹשִׁיעוּן אוֹתוֹWhoeverאֲשֶׁרcontendsיָרִיבfor himלוֹshall be put to deathיוּמַתbyעַדmorning.הַבֹּקֶרIfאִםheהוּאis a god,אֱלֹהִיםlet him contendיָרֶבfor himself,לוֹbecauseכִּיsomeone has torn downנָתַץhis altar.”אֶת מִזְבְּחוֹ
So on thatהַהוּאdayבַיּוֹםhe called himוַיִּקְרָא לוֹJerubbaal,יְרֻבַּעַלsaying,לֵאמֹר“Let Baalהַבַּעַלcontendיָרֶבwith him,בּוֹbecauseכִּיhe tore downנָתַץhis altar.”אֶת מִזְבְּחוֹ
AllוְכָלMidian,מִדְיָןAmalek,וַעֲמָלֵקand the sonsוּבְנֵיof the eastקֶדֶםgatheredנֶאֶסְפוּtogether,יַחְדָּוcrossed over,וַיַּעַבְרוּand campedוַיַּחֲנוּin the valleyבְּעֵמֶקof Jezreel.יִזְרְעֶאל
The spiritוְרוּחַof YHWHיְהוָהclothedלָבְשָׁהGideon,אֶת גִּדְעוֹןand he blewוַיִּתְקַעthe horn,בַּשּׁוֹפָרand Abiezerוַ אֲבִיעֶזֶרwas summonedיִזָּעֵקafter him.אַחֲרָיו
He sentשָׁלַחmessengersוּמַלְאָכִיםthroughout allבְּכָלManasseh,מְנַשֶּׁהand itוַ הוּאtooגַּםwas summonedיִזָּעֵקafter him;אַחֲרָיוand he sentוּ שָׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםto Asher,בְּאָשֵׁרto Zebulun,וּבִזְבֻלוּןand to Naphtali,וּבְנַפְתָּלִיand they came upוַיַּעֲלוּto meet them.לִקְרָאתָם
GideonגִּדְעוֹןsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלElohim,הָאֱלֹהִים“Ifאִםyou are going to saveיֶשְׁךָ מוֹשִׁיעַIsraelאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלby my hand,בְּיָדִיasכַּאֲשֶׁרyou have spoken,דִּבַּרְתָּ
look,הִנֵּהIאָנֹכִיam placingמַצִּיגa fleeceאֶת גִּזַּתof woolהַצֶּמֶרon the threshing floor;בַּגֹּרֶןifאִםthere isיִהְיֶהdewטַלonעַלthe fleeceהַגִּזָּהalone,לְבַדָּהּand onוְעַלallכָּלthe landהָאָרֶץdryness,חֹרֶבthen I will knowוְיָדַעְתִּיthatכִּיyou will saveתוֹשִׁיעַIsraelאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלby my hand,בְּיָדִיasכַּאֲשֶׁרyou have spoken.”דִּבַּרְתָּ
And it wasוַיְהִיso.כֵןHe rose earlyוַיַּשְׁכֵּםthe next dayמִמָּחֳרָתand squeezedוַיָּזַרthe fleece,אֶת הַגִּזָּהand he wrung outוַיִּמֶץdewטַלfromמִןthe fleece,הַגִּזָּהa fullמְלוֹאbowlהַסֵּפֶלof water.מָיִם
GideonגִּדְעוֹןsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלElohim,הָאֱלֹהִים“Do notאַלlet your anger burnיִחַר אַפְּךָagainst me,בִּיand let me speakוַאֲדַבְּרָהjustאַךְthis time.הַפָּעַםPleaseנָּאlet me testאֲנַסֶּהjustרַקthis timeהַפַּעַםwith the fleece:בַּגִּזָּהplease let there beיְהִי נָאdrynessחֹרֶבonאֶלthe fleeceהַגִּזָּהalone,לְבַדָּהּand onוְעַלallכָּלthe landהָאָרֶץlet there beיִהְיֶהdew.”טָּל
Elohimאֱלֹהִיםdidוַיַּעַשׂsoכֵּןthatהַהוּאnight:בַּלַּיְלָהthere wasוַיְהִיdrynessחֹרֶבonאֶלthe fleeceהַגִּזָּהalone,לְבַדָּהּand onוְעַלallכָּלthe landהָאָרֶץthere wasהָיָהdew.טָל