שֹׁפְטִים 6

1 וַיַּעֲשׂ֧וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתְּנֵ֧ם יְהוָ֛ה בְּיַד־מִדְיָ֖ן שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִֽים׃

The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord's sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years.

2 וַתָּ֥עָז יַד־מִדְיָ֖ן עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִפְּנֵ֨י מִדְיָ֜ן עָשֽׂוּ לָהֶ֣ם ׀ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶת־הַמִּנְהָרוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֶּֽהָרִ֔ים וְאֶת־הַמְּעָר֖וֹת וְאֶת־הַמְּצָדֽוֹת׃

The Midianite oppression was so great that because of them the Israelites made themselves hiding places in mountains, caves, and fortifications.

3 וְהָיָ֖ה אִם־זָרַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעָלָ֨ה מִדְיָ֧ן וַֽעֲמָלֵ֛ק וּבְנֵי־קֶ֖דֶם וְעָל֥וּ עָלָֽיו׃

Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other peoples from the east would come and attack them.

4 וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם וַיַּשְׁחִ֙יתוּ֙ אֶת־יְב֣וּל הָאָ֔רֶץ עַד־בּוֹאֲךָ֖ עַזָּ֑ה וְלֹֽא־יַשְׁאִ֤ירוּ מִֽחְיָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְשֶׂ֥ה וָשׁ֖וֹר וַחֲמֽוֹר׃

They would set up their camps and destroy the country's crops as far away as Gaza. They didn't leave anything to eat in the whole of Israel, and they took for themselves all the sheep, cattle, and donkeys.

5 כִּ֡י הֵם֩ וּמִקְנֵיהֶ֨ם יַעֲל֜וּ וְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם וּבָ֤אוּ כְדֵֽי־אַרְבֶּה֙ לָרֹ֔ב וְלָהֶ֥ם וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶ֖ם אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֑ר וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ בָאָ֖רֶץ לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ׃

They arrived in huge numbers with their livestock and tents like swarms of locusts, with so many camels they couldn't be counted. They invaded the land to completely devastate it.

6 וַיִּדַּ֧ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מְאֹ֖ד מִפְּנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֑ן וַיִּזְעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃ פ

The Israelites were made desperately poor by the Midianites and they called out to the Lord for help.

7 וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־זָעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה עַ֖ל אֹד֥וֹת מִדְיָֽן׃

When the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help because of the Midianites,

8 וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח יְהוָ֛ה אִ֥ישׁ נָבִ֖יא אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם כֹּה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֣ה ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָנֹכִ֞י הֶעֱלֵ֤יתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וָאֹצִ֥יא אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים׃

the Lord sent the Israelites a prophet. He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought you out of Egypt; I led you out from the place where you were slaves.

9 וָאַצִּ֤ל אֶתְכֶם֙ מִיַּ֣ד מִצְרַ֔יִם וּמִיַּ֖ד כָּל־לֹחֲצֵיכֶ֑ם וָאֲגָרֵ֤שׁ אוֹתָם֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם וָאֶתְּנָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־אַרְצָֽם׃

I saved you from the power of the Egyptians and from everyone who oppressed you. I expelled them before you and gave their land to you.

10 וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָכֶ֗ם אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם לֹ֤א תִֽירְאוּ֙ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם יוֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּאַרְצָ֑ם וְלֹ֥א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם בְּקוֹלִֽי׃ פ

I warned you: I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you're now living.’ But you didn't listen to me.”

11 וַיָּבֹ֞א מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ תַּ֤חַת הָֽאֵלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּעָפְרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְיוֹאָ֖שׁ אֲבִ֣י הָֽעֶזְרִ֑י וְגִדְע֣וֹן בְּנ֗וֹ חֹבֵ֤ט חִטִּים֙ בַּגַּ֔ת לְהָנִ֖יס מִפְּנֵ֥י מִדְיָֽן׃

The angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress there to hide it from the Midianites.

12 וַיֵּרָ֥א אֵלָ֖יו מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו יְהוָ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ גִּבּ֥וֹר הֶחָֽיִל׃

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, great man of courage!”

13 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֤יו גִּדְעוֹן֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְיֵ֤שׁ יְהוָה֙ עִמָּ֔נוּ וְלָ֥מָּה מְצָאַ֖תְנוּ כָּל־זֹ֑את וְאַיֵּ֣ה כָֽל־נִפְלְאֹתָ֡יו אֲשֶׁר֩ סִפְּרוּ־לָ֨נוּ אֲבוֹתֵ֜ינוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר הֲלֹ֤א מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ הֶעֱלָ֣נוּ יְהוָ֔ה וְעַתָּה֙ נְטָשָׁ֣נוּ יְהוָ֔ה וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖נוּ בְּכַף־מִדְיָֽן׃

“Excuse me, my lord, but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Gideon replied. “Where are all his wonderful miracles that our forefathers reminded us about when they said, ‘Wasn't it the Lord who led us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has given up on us and has handed us over to the Midianites.”

14 וַיִּ֤פֶן אֵלָיו֙ יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֵ֚ךְ בְּכֹחֲךָ֣ זֶ֔ה וְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ֥ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִכַּ֣ף מִדְיָ֑ן הֲלֹ֖א שְׁלַחְתִּֽיךָ׃

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength that you have and save Israel from the Midianites. Aren't I the one sending you?”

15 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֔י בַּמָּ֥ה אוֹשִׁ֖יעַ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הִנֵּ֤ה אַלְפִּי֙ הַדַּ֣ל בִּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה וְאָנֹכִ֥י הַצָּעִ֖יר בְּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

“Excuse me, my lord, but how can I save Israel?” Gideon replied. “My family is the least important of the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important person of that family!”

16 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אֶהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהִכִּיתָ֥ אֶת־מִדְיָ֖ן כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָֽד׃

“I will be with you,” the Lord told him. “You will defeat the Midianites as if they were just one man.”

17 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו אִם־נָ֛א מָצָ֥אתִי חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ לִּי֙ א֔וֹת שָׁאַתָּ֖ה מְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמִּֽי׃

“Please, Lord, if you think well of me, give me a sign that it's really you telling me this,” Gideon asked.

18 אַל־נָ֨א תָמֻ֤שׁ מִזֶּה֙ עַד־בֹּאִ֣י אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְהֹֽצֵאתִי֙ אֶת־מִנְחָתִ֔י וְהִנַּחְתִּ֖י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אָנֹכִ֥י אֵשֵׁ֖ב עַ֥ד שׁוּבֶֽךָ׃

“Don't leave until I come back and present my offering to you.” “I will remain here until you return,” he replied.

19 וְגִדְע֣וֹן בָּ֗א וַיַּ֤עַשׂ גְּדִֽי־עִזִּים֙ וְאֵיפַת־קֶ֣מַח מַצּ֔וֹת הַבָּשָׂר֙ שָׂ֣ם בַּסַּ֔ל וְהַמָּרַ֖ק שָׂ֣ם בַּפָּר֑וּר וַיּוֹצֵ֥א אֵלָ֛יו אֶל־תַּ֥חַת הָאֵלָ֖ה וַיַּגַּֽשׁ׃ ס

Gideon went and cooked a young goat, and baked some unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He carried them out and presented them to the angel under the oak tree.

20 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים קַ֣ח אֶת־הַבָּשָׂ֤ר וְאֶת־הַמַּצּוֹת֙ וְהַנַּח֙ אֶל־הַסֶּ֣לַע הַלָּ֔ז וְאֶת־הַמָּרַ֖ק שְׁפ֑וֹךְ וַיַּ֖עַשׂ כֵּֽן׃

The angel of God told him, “Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock and pour the broth over them.” So Gideon did.

21 וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה אֶת־קְצֵ֤ה הַמִּשְׁעֶ֙נֶת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָד֔וֹ וַיִּגַּ֥ע בַּבָּשָׂ֖ר וּבַמַּצּ֑וֹת וַתַּ֨עַל הָאֵ֜שׁ מִן־הַצּ֗וּר וַתֹּ֤אכַל אֶת־הַבָּשָׂר֙ וְאֶת־הַמַּצּ֔וֹת וּמַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה הָלַ֖ךְ מֵעֵינָֽיו׃

The angel of the Lord held out the staff he was holding and touched the meat and unleavened bread with the tip. Fire flamed from the rock and burned up the meat and unleavened bread. Then the angel vanished.

22 וַיַּ֣רְא גִּדְע֔וֹן כִּֽי־מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה ה֑וּא ס וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גִּדְע֗וֹן אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֙יתִי֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים׃

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh no, Lord God! I've seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

23 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֧וֹ יְהוָ֛ה שָׁל֥וֹם לְךָ֖ אַל־תִּירָ֑א לֹ֖א תָּמֽוּת׃

But the Lord told him, “Peace! Don't worry, you're not going to die.”

24 וַיִּבֶן֩ שָׁ֨ם גִּדְע֤וֹן מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָא־ל֥וֹ יְהוָ֖ה שָׁל֑וֹם עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עוֹדֶ֕נּוּ בְּעָפְרָ֖ת אֲבִ֥י הָעֶזְרִֽי׃ פ

So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it “The Lord is Peace.” It's still there today, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 וַיְהִי֮ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַהוּא֒ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יְהוָ֗ה קַ֤ח אֶת־פַּר־הַשּׁוֹר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יךָ וּפַ֥ר הַשֵּׁנִ֖י שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וְהָרַסְתָּ֗ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֤ח הַבַּ֙עַל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יךָ וְאֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֖יו תִּכְרֹֽת׃

That night the Lord told Gideon, “Take your father's bull and a second bull seven years old, and tear down your father's altar of Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

26 וּבָנִ֨יתָ מִזְבֵּ֜חַ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ עַ֣ל רֹ֧אשׁ הַמָּע֛וֹז הַזֶּ֖ה בַּמַּֽעֲרָכָ֑ה וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַפָּ֣ר הַשֵּׁנִ֔י וְהַעֲלִ֣יתָ עוֹלָ֔ה בַּעֲצֵ֥י הָאֲשֵׁרָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּכְרֹֽת׃

Then build an altar to the Lord your God in the proper way on hilltop. Using the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down as firewood, take the second bull and present it as a burnt offering.”

27 וַיִּקַּ֨ח גִּדְע֜וֹן עֲשָׂרָ֤ה אֲנָשִׁים֙ מֵֽעֲבָדָ֔יו וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלָ֖יו יְהוָ֑ה וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יָרֵא֩ אֶת־בֵּ֨ית אָבִ֜יו וְאֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָעִ֛יר מֵעֲשׂ֥וֹת יוֹמָ֖ם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָֽיְלָה׃

Gideon accompanied by ten of his servants did what the Lord had told him. However, because he was afraid of his family and the people of the town, he did it during the night rather than in the day.

28 וַיַּשְׁכִּ֜ימוּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּ֤ה נֻתַּץ֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הַבַּ֔עַל וְהָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֖יו כֹּרָ֑תָה וְאֵת֙ הַפָּ֣ר הַשֵּׁנִ֔י הֹֽעֲלָ֔ה עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ הַבָּנֽוּי׃

Early in the morning when the people of the town got up, they saw that the altar of Baal had been torn down and the Asherah pole beside it had been cut down, with the second bull sacrificed on the altar that had just been built.

29 וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֔הוּ מִ֥י עָשָׂ֖ה הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַֽיִּדְרְשׁוּ֙ וַיְבַקְשׁ֔וּ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ גִּדְעוֹן֙ בֶּן־יוֹאָ֔שׁ עָשָׂ֖ה הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

They asked one another, “Who did this?” They made inquiries and they were told, “Gideon, son of Joash, did it.”

30 וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔שׁ הוֹצֵ֥א אֶת־בִּנְךָ֖ וְיָמֹ֑ת כִּ֤י נָתַץ֙ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֣ח הַבַּ֔עַל וְכִ֥י כָרַ֖ת הָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָלָֽיו׃

“Hand over your son,” the people of the town ordered Joash. “He must die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֡שׁ לְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁר־עָמְד֨וּ עָלָ֜יו הַאַתֶּ֣ם ׀ תְּרִיב֣וּן לַבַּ֗עַל אִם־אַתֶּם֙ תּוֹשִׁיע֣וּן אוֹת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥יב ל֛וֹ יוּמַ֖ת עַד־הַבֹּ֑קֶר אִם־אֱלֹהִ֥ים הוּא֙ יָ֣רֶב ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י נָתַ֖ץ אֶֽת־מִזְבְּחֽוֹ׃

Joash replied to all those confronting him, “Are you arguing on Baal's behalf? Do you have to save him? Anyone who argues for him will be put to death by morning! If he is a god let him fight for himself against those who tore down his altar.”

32 וַיִּקְרָא־ל֥וֹ בַיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא יְרֻבַּ֣עַל לֵאמֹ֑ר יָ֤רֶב בּוֹ֙ הַבַּ֔עַל כִּ֥י נָתַ֖ץ אֶֽת־מִזְבְּחֽוֹ׃ פ

That day Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal fight with him,” because he had torn down his altar.

33 וְכָל־מִדְיָ֧ן וַעֲמָלֵ֛ק וּבְנֵי־קֶ֖דֶם נֶאֶסְפ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּעֵ֥מֶק יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃

All the Midianites, Amalekites, and other peoples of the East gathered together and crossed over the Jordan. They camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34 וְר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה לָבְשָׁ֖ה אֶת־גִּדְע֑וֹן וַיִּתְקַע֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר וַיִזָּעֵ֥ק אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר אַחֲרָֽיו׃

The Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew the trumpet, calling Abiezrites to join him.

35 וּמַלְאָכִים֙ שָׁלַ֣ח בְּכָל־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה וַיִזָּעֵ֥ק גַּם־ה֖וּא אַחֲרָ֑יו וּמַלְאָכִ֣ים שָׁלַ֗ח בְּאָשֵׁ֤ר וּבִזְבֻלוּן֙ וּבְנַפְתָּלִ֔י וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ לִקְרָאתָֽם׃

He sent messengers through the whole territory of Manasseh, calling them to join him, and also to Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so they also came and joined the others.

36 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר גִּדְע֖וֹן אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים אִם־יֶשְׁךָ֞ מוֹשִׁ֧יעַ בְּיָדִ֛י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel through me as you promised,

37 הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִ֗י מַצִּ֛יג אֶת־גִּזַּ֥ת הַצֶּ֖מֶר בַּגֹּ֑רֶן אִ֡ם טַל֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה עַֽל־הַגִּזָּ֜ה לְבַדָּ֗הּ וְעַל־כָּל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ חֹ֔רֶב וְיָדַעְתִּ֗י כִּֽי־תוֹשִׁ֧יעַ בְּיָדִ֛י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃

then look—I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If the fleece is wet with dew but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to save Israel through me as you promised.”

38 וַיְהִי־כֵ֕ן וַיַּשְׁכֵּם֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיָּ֖זַר אֶת־הַגִּזָּ֑ה וַיִּ֤מֶץ טַל֙ מִן־הַגִּזָּ֔ה מְל֥וֹא הַסֵּ֖פֶל מָֽיִם׃

That's what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he pressed on the fleece and squeezed out the dew, enough water to fill a bowl.

39 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר גִּדְעוֹן֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים אַל־יִ֤חַר אַפְּךָ֙ בִּ֔י וַאֲדַבְּרָ֖ה אַ֣ךְ הַפָּ֑עַם אֲנַסֶּ֤ה נָּא־רַק־הַפַּ֙עַם֙ בַּגִּזָּ֔ה יְהִי־נָ֨א חֹ֤רֶב אֶל־הַגִּזָּה֙ לְבַדָּ֔הּ וְעַל־כָּל־הָאָ֖רֶץ יִֽהְיֶה־טָּֽל׃

Then Gideon said to God, “Please don't get cross with me. Just let me make one more request. Let me do one more test with the fleece. This time let the fleece be dry and the whole ground covered with dew.”

40 וַיַּ֧עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֛ים כֵּ֖ן בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא וַיְהִי־חֹ֤רֶב אֶל־הַגִּזָּה֙ לְבַדָּ֔הּ וְעַל־כָּל־הָאָ֖רֶץ הָ֥יָה טָֽל׃ פ

That night God did exactly that. The fleece alone was dry and the whole ground was covered with dew.