The menאִישׁof Ephraimאֶפְרַיִםsaid to him,וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו“Whatמָהis thisהַזֶּהthingהַדָּבָרyou have done to us,עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּnotלְבִלְתִּיcalling usקְרֹאות לָנוּwhenכִּיyou wentהָלַכְתָּto fightלְהִלָּחֵםagainst Midian?”בְּמִדְיָןAnd they contendedוַיְרִיבוּןwith himאִתּוֹwith force.בְּחָזְקָה
He said to them,וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם“Whatמֶהhave I doneעָשִׂיתִיnowעַתָּהcompared with you?כָּכֶםIs notהֲלוֹאthe gleaningעֹלְלוֹתof Ephraimאֶפְרַיִםbetterטוֹבthan the vintageמִבְצִירof Abiezer?אֲבִיעֶזֶר
Into your handבְּיֶדְכֶםElohimאֱלֹהִיםhas givenנָתַןthe chiefsאֶת שָׂרֵיof Midian,מִדְיָןOrebאֶת עֹרֵבand Zeeb;וְאֶת זְאֵבand whatוּמַהwas I ableיָּכֹלְתִּיto doעֲשׂוֹתcompared with you?”כָּכֶםThenאָזtheir spiritרוּחָםtoward himמֵעָלָיוsubsidedרָפְתָהwhen he spokeבְּדַבְּרוֹthisהַזֶּהword.הַדָּבָר
Gideonגִדְעוֹןcameוַיָּבֹאto the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּנָהand crossed over,עֹבֵרheהוּאand the threeוּשְׁלֹשׁhundredמֵאוֹתmenהָאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with him,אִתּוֹexhaustedעֲיֵפִיםyet pursuing.וְרֹדְפִים
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto the menלְאַנְשֵׁיof Succoth,סֻכּוֹת“Pleaseנָאgiveתְּנוּround loavesכִּכְּרוֹתof breadלֶחֶםto the peopleלָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרfollow me,בְּרַגְלָיforכִּיtheyהֵםare exhausted,עֲיֵפִיםand Iוְאָנֹכִיam pursuingרֹדֵףafterאַחֲרֵיZebahזֶבַחand Zalmunna,וְצַלְמֻנָּעthe kingsמַלְכֵיof Midian.”מִדְיָן
The officialsשָׂרֵיof Succothסֻכּוֹתsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Is the handהֲכַףof Zebahזֶבַחand Zalmunnaוְצַלְמֻנָּעalreadyעַתָּהin your hand,בְּיָדֶךָthatכִּיwe should giveנִתֵּןbreadלָחֶםto your army?”לִצְבָאֲךָ
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Therefore,לָכֵןwhenבְּYHWHיְהוָהgivesתֵתZebahאֶת זֶבַחand Zalmunnaוְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּעinto my hand,בְּיָדִיI will threshוְדַשְׁתִּיyour fleshאֶת בְּשַׂרְכֶםwith the thornsאֶת קוֹצֵיof the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּרand with the briers.”וְאֶת הַבַּרְקֳנִים
From thereמִשָּׁםhe went upוַיַּעַלto Penuelפְּנוּאֵלand spoke to themוַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶםin the same way,כָּזֹאתand the menוַ אַנְשֵׁיof Penuelפְנוּאֵלanswered himיַּעֲנוּ אוֹתוֹasכַּאֲשֶׁרthe menאַנְשֵׁיof Succothסֻכּוֹתhad answered.עָנוּ
So he saidוַיֹּאמֶרalsoגַּםto the menלְאַנְשֵׁיof Penuel,פְנוּאֵלsaying,לֵאמֹר“When I returnבְּשׁוּבִיin peace,בְשָׁלוֹםI will tear downאֶתֹּץthisהַזֶּהtower.”אֶת הַמִּגְדָּל
Now Zebahוְזֶבַחand Zalmunnaוְצַלְמֻנָּעwere in Karkor,בַּקַּרְקֹרand their campsוּמַחֲנֵיהֶםwith them,עִמָּםabout fifteenכַּחֲמֵשֶׁת עָשָׂרthousand,אֶלֶףallכֹּלwho were leftהַנּוֹתָרִיםof allמִכֹּלthe campמַחֲנֵהof the sonsבְנֵיof the east;קֶדֶםand those who had fallenוְהַנֹּפְלִיםwere a hundredמֵאָהand twentyוְעֶשְׂרִיםthousandאֶלֶףmenאִישׁwho drewשֹׁלֵףthe sword.חָרֶב
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןwent upוַיַּעַלby the wayדֶּרֶךְof those who dwellהַשְּׁכוּנֵיin tents,בָאֳהָלִיםeastמִקֶּדֶםof Nobahלְנֹבַחand Jogbehah,וְיָגְבֳּהָהand he struckוַיַּךְthe camp,אֶת הַמַּחֲנֶהwhile the campוְהַמַּחֲנֶהwasהָיָהfeeling secure.בֶטַח
Zebahזֶבַחand Zalmunnaוְצַלְמֻנָּעfled,וַיָּנוּסוּand he pursued themוַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶםand capturedוַיִּלְכֹּדthe twoאֶת שְׁנֵיkingsמַלְכֵיof Midian,מִדְיָןZebahאֶת זֶבַחand Zalmunna,וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּעand he threw into terrorהֶחֱרִידthe wholeוְכָלcamp.הַמַּחֲנֶה
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsonבֶּןof Joashיוֹאָשׁreturnedוַיָּשָׁבfromמִןthe warהַמִּלְחָמָהby the ascentמִלְמַעֲלֵהof Heres.הֶחָרֶס
He capturedוַיִּלְכָּדa young manנַעַרof the menמֵאַנְשֵׁיof Succothסֻכּוֹתand questioned him,וַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּand he wrote down for himוַיִּכְתֹּב אֵלָיוthe officialsאֶת שָׂרֵיof Succothסֻכּוֹתand its elders,וְאֶת זְקֵנֶיהָseventy-sevenשִׁבְעִים וְשִׁבְעָהmen.אִישׁ
He cameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלthe menאַנְשֵׁיof Succothסֻכּוֹתand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Here areהִנֵּהZebahזֶבַחand Zalmunna,וְצַלְמֻנָּעabout whomאֲשֶׁרyou taunted me,חֵרַפְתֶּם אוֹתִיsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Is the handהֲכַףof Zebahזֶבַחand Zalmunnaוְצַלְמֻנָּעalreadyעַתָּהin your hand,בְּיָדֶךָthatכִּיwe should giveנִתֵּןbreadלָחֶםto your menלַאֲנָשֶׁיךָwho are exhausted?’”הַיְּעֵפִים
He tookוַיִּקַּחthe eldersאֶת זִקְנֵיof the city,הָעִירand the thornsוְאֶת קוֹצֵיof the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּרand the briers,וְאֶת הַבַּרְקֳנִיםand with themבָּהֶםhe taughtוַיֹּדַעthe menאֵת אַנְשֵׁיof Succoth.סֻכּוֹת
And he tore downוְ נָתָץthe towerאֶת מִגְדַּלof Penuelפְּנוּאֵלand killedוַיַּהֲרֹגthe menאֶת אַנְשֵׁיof the city.הָעִיר
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלZebahזֶבַחand toוְאֶלZalmunna,צַלְמֻנָּע“Where areאֵיפֹהthe menהָאֲנָשִׁיםwhomאֲשֶׁרyou killedהֲרַגְתֶּםat Tabor?”בְּתָבוֹרThey said,וַיֹּאמרוּ“As you are,כָּמוֹךָso were they,כְמוֹהֶםeach oneאֶחָדlike the appearanceכְּתֹאַרof the sonsבְּנֵיof a king.”הַמֶּלֶךְ
He said,וַיֹּאמַר“They wereהֵםmy brothers,אַחַיthe sonsבְּנֵיof my mother.אִמִּיAs surely as YHWH lives,חַי יְהוָהifלוּyou had let them live,הַחֲיִתֶם אוֹתָםI would notלֹאkill you.”הָרַגְתִּי אֶתְכֶם
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto Jetherלְיֶתֶרhis firstborn,בְּכוֹרוֹ“Rise,קוּםkill them.”הֲרֹג אוֹתָםBut the young manוְ הַנַּעַרdid notלֹאdrawשָׁלַףhis sword,חַרְבּוֹforכִּיhe was afraid,יָרֵאbecauseכִּיhe was stillעוֹדֶנּוּa young man.נָעַר
Zebahזֶבַחand Zalmunnaוְצַלְמֻנָּעsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Riseקוּםyourselfאַתָּהand fall upon us,וּפְגַע בָּנוּforכִּיas the man is,כָאִישׁso is his strength.”גְּבוּרָתוֹSo Gideonגִּדְעוֹןroseוַיָּקָםand killedוַיַּהֲרֹגZebahאֶת זֶבַחand Zalmunna,וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּעand he tookוַיִּקַּחthe crescentsאֶת הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִיםthatאֲשֶׁרwere on the necksבְּצַוְּארֵיof their camels.גְמַלֵּיהֶם
The menאִישׁof IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלGideon,גִּדְעוֹן“Ruleמְשָׁלover us,בָּנוּbothגַּםyouאַתָּהandגַּםyour sonבִּנְךָandגַּםyour son’sבְּנֶךָson,בֶּןforכִּיyou have saved usהוֹשַׁעְתָּנוּfrom the handמִיַּדof Midian.”מִדְיָן
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsaid to them,וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם“Iאֲנִיwill notלֹאruleאֶמְשֹׁלover you,בָּכֶםandוְmy sonבְּנִיwill notלֹאruleיִמְשֹׁלover you;בָּכֶםYHWHיְהוָהwill ruleיִמְשֹׁלover you.”בָּכֶם
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsaid to them,וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם“Let me askאֶשְׁאֲלָהof youמִכֶּםa request:שְׁאֵלָהgiveוּתְנוּmeלִיeach manאִישׁan earringנֶזֶםfrom his spoil.”שְׁלָלוֹForכִּיthey hadלָהֶםearringsנִזְמֵיof gold,זָהָבbecauseכִּיtheyהֵםwere Ishmaelites.יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים
They said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“We will certainly give them.”נָתוֹן נִתֵּןThey spread outוַיִּפְרְשׂוּthe cloak,אֶת הַשִּׂמְלָהand each manאִישׁthrewוַיַּשְׁלִיכוּthereשָׁמָּהan earringנֶזֶםfrom his spoil.שְׁלָלוֹ
The weightמִשְׁקַלof the earringsנִזְמֵיof goldהַזָּהָבthatאֲשֶׁרhe requestedשָׁאָלwasוַיְהִיa thousandאֶלֶףsevenוּשְׁבַעhundredמֵאוֹתshekels of gold,זָהָבbesidesלְבַד מִןthe crescents,הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִיםthe pendants,וְהַנְּטִפוֹתand the garmentsוּבִגְדֵיof purpleהָאַרְגָּמָןthatשֶׁwere onעַלthe kingsמַלְכֵיof Midian,מִדְיָןand besidesוּלְבַד מִןthe necklacesהָעֲנָקוֹתthatאֲשֶׁרwere on the necksבְּצַוְּארֵיof their camels.גְמַלֵּיהֶם
Gideonגִדְעוֹןmadeוַיַּעַשׂitאוֹתוֹinto an ephodלְאֵפוֹדand set it upוַיַּצֵּג אוֹתוֹin his city,בְעִירוֹin Ophrah;בְּעָפְרָהand allכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלprostituted themselvesוַיִּזְנוּafter itאַחֲרָיוthere,שָׁםand it becameוַיְהִיfor Gideonלְגִדְעוֹןand for his houseוּלְבֵיתוֹa trap.לְמוֹקֵשׁ
So Midianמִדְיָןwas subduedוַיִּכָּנַעbeforeלִפְנֵיthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand they did notוְלֹאagainיָסְפוּlift upלָשֵׂאתtheir head;רֹאשָׁםand the landוַ הָאָרֶץwas calmתִּשְׁקֹטfortyאַרְבָּעִיםyearsשָׁנָהin the daysבִּימֵיof Gideon.גִדְעוֹן
Jerubbaalיְרֻבַּעַלsonבֶּןof Joashיוֹאָשׁwentוַיֵּלֶךְand livedוַיֵּשֶׁבin his house.בְּבֵיתוֹ
Gideonוּלְגִדְעוֹןhadהָיוּseventyשִׁבְעִיםsons,בָּנִיםwho came outיֹצְאֵיof his thigh,יְרֵכוֹforכִּיhe hadהָיוּ לוֹmanyרַבּוֹתwives.נָשִׁים
His concubineוּפִילַגְשׁוֹwhoאֲשֶׁרwas in Shechemבִּשְׁכֶםsheהִיאalsoגַםbore himיָלְדָה לּוֹa son,בֵּןand he gaveוַיָּשֶׂםhim the nameאֶת שְׁמוֹAbimelech.אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
Gideonגִּדְעוֹןsonבֶּןof Joashיוֹאָשׁdiedוַיָּמָתat a goodטוֹבָהold ageבְּשֵׂיבָהand was buriedוַיִּקָּבֵרin the tombבְּקֶבֶרof Joashיוֹאָשׁhis father,אָבִיוin Ophrahבְּעָפְרָהof the Abiezrites.אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי
As soon asוַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁרGideonגִּדְעוֹןdied,מֵתthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלagainוַיָּשׁוּבוּprostituted themselvesוַיִּזְנוּafterאַחֲרֵיthe Baals,הַבְּעָלִיםand they madeוַיָּשִׂימוּ לָהֶםBaal-berithבַּעַל בְּרִיתtheir god.לֵאלֹהִים
The sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלdid notוְלֹאrememberזָכְרוּYHWHאֶת יְהוָהtheir Elohim,אֱלֹהֵיהֶםwho had delivered themהַמַּצִּיל אוֹתָםfrom the handמִיַּדof allכָּלtheir enemiesאֹיְבֵיהֶםall around;מִסָּבִיב
norוְלֹאdid they showעָשׂוּloyal loveחֶסֶדtoעִםthe houseבֵּיתof Jerubbaal,יְרֻבַּעַלGideon,גִּדְעוֹןin accordance with allכְּכָלthe goodהַטּוֹבָהthatאֲשֶׁרhe had doneעָשָׂהforעִםIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵל