The Book of Judges, Chapter 6שפטים 6

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

And the sons of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of YHWH, and YHWH gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.

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

And the hand of Midian prevailed over Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.

וְהָיָ֖ה אִם זָרַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעָלָ֨ה מִדְיָ֧ן וַֽעֲמָלֵ֛ק וּבְנֵי קֶ֖דֶם וְעָל֥וּ עָלָֽיו

And it was, whenever Israel sowed, that Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east would come up, and they would come up against it.

וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ֙ אֶת יְב֣וּל הָאָ֔רֶץ עַד בּוֹאֲךָ֖ עַזָּ֑ה וְלֹֽא יַשְׁאִ֤ירוּ מִֽחְיָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְשֶׂ֥ה וָשׁ֖וֹר וַחֲמֽוֹר

And they encamped against them and ruined the produce of the land as far as you come to Gaza, and they left no sustenance in Israel — neither sheep nor ox nor donkey.

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

For they and their livestock would come up with their tents; they would come in like locusts in multitude, they and their camels without number, and they came into the land to ruin it.

וַיִּדַּ֧ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מְאֹ֖ד מִפְּנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֑ן וַיִּזְעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל יְהוָֽה

And Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH.

וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי זָעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל יְהוָ֑ה עַ֖ל אֹד֥וֹת מִדְיָֽן

And it was, when the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH on account of Midian,

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

that YHWH sent a man, a prophet, to the sons of Israel, and he said to them, Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: I am the one who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slaves.

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

And I delivered you from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and I drove them out from before you and gave you their land.

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

And I said to you, I am YHWH your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorite, in whose land you are dwelling. But you have not listened to my voice.

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

And the messenger of YHWH came and sat under the oak that is in Ophrah, which belongs to Joash the Abiezrite, while Gideon his son was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from Midian.

וַיֵּרָ֥א אֵלָ֖יו מַלְּאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו יְהוָ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ גִּבּ֥וֹר הֶחָֽיִל

And the messenger of YHWH appeared to him and said to him, YHWH is with you, O mighty man of valor.

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

And Gideon said to him, Please, my lord — if YHWH is with us, why has all this found us? And where are all his wonders that our fathers recounted to us, saying, Did not YHWH bring us up from Egypt? And now YHWH has abandoned us and given us into the palm of Midian.

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

And YHWH turned toward him and said, Go in this your strength, and you shall save Israel from the palm of Midian. Have I not sent you?

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

And he said to him, Please, my lord, with what shall I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אֶהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהִכִּיתָ֥ אֶת מִדְיָ֖ן כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָֽד

And YHWH said to him, But I will be with you, and you shall strike Midian as one man.

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

And he said to him, If I have found favor in your eyes, then do for me a sign that it is you who are speaking with me.

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

Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my offering and set it before you. And he said, I will sit until you return.

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

And Gideon went in and prepared a kid of the goats and an ephah of flour as unleavened cakes. The meat he put in a basket and the broth in a pot, and he brought them out to him under the oak and presented them.

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

And the messenger of God said to him, Take the meat and the unleavened cakes and set them on this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

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

And the messenger of YHWH stretched out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes, and fire went up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the messenger of YHWH went from his sight.

וַיַּ֣רְא גִּדְע֔וֹן כִּֽי מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה ה֑וּא וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גִּדְע֗וֹן אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה כִּֽי עַל כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֨יתִי֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה פָּנִ֖ים אֶל פָּנִֽים

And Gideon saw that it was the messenger of YHWH, and Gideon said, Alas, Lord YHWH! For now I have seen the messenger of YHWH face to face.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֧וֹ יְהוָ֛ה שָׁל֥וֹם לְךָ֖ אַל תִּירָ֑א לֹ֖א תָּמֽוּת

And YHWH said to him, Peace to you; do not fear; you shall not die.

וַיִּבֶן֩ שָׁ֨ם גִּדְע֤וֹן מִזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָא ל֥וֹ יְהוָ֖ה שָׁל֑וֹם עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עוֹדֶ֕נּוּ בְּעָפְרָ֖ת אֲבִ֥י הָעֶזְרִֽי

And Gideon built there an altar to YHWH and called it YHWH-Shalom. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrite.

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

And that night YHWH said to him, Take the bull that belongs to your father, and the second bull of seven years, and pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and the Asherah that is beside it you shall cut down.

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

And you shall build an altar to YHWH your God on the top of this stronghold, in the proper arrangement, and you shall take the second bull and offer it up as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you cut down.

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

And Gideon took ten men from his servants and did as YHWH had spoken to him. And because he feared his father's house and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night.

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

And the men of the city rose early in the morning, and behold, the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the altar that was built.

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

And they said, each man to his neighbor, Who has done this thing? And they inquired and searched, and they said, Gideon son of Joash has done this thing.

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

And the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out your son that he may die, because he tore down the altar of Baal and because he cut down the Asherah that was beside it.

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

And Joash said to all who stood against him, Will you contend for Baal, or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been torn down.

וַיִּקְרָא ל֥וֹ בַיּוֹם הַה֖וּא יְרֻבַּ֣עַל לֵאמֹ֑ר יָ֤רֶב בּוֹ֙ הַבַּ֔עַל כִּ֥י נָתַ֖ץ אֶֽת מִזְבְּחֽוֹ

And he was called Jerubbaal on that day, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he tore down his altar.

וְכָל מִדְיָ֧ן וַעֲמָלֵ֛ק וּבְנֵי קֶ֖דֶם נֶאֶסְפ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּעֵ֥מֶק יִזְרְעֶֽאל

And all Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east assembled together, and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.

וְר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה לָבְשָׁ֖ה אֶת גִּדְע֑וֹן וַיִּתְקַע֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר וַיִזָּעֵ֥ק אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר אַחֲרָֽיו

And the Spirit of YHWH clothed Gideon, and he sounded the ram's horn, and Abiezer was called out after him.

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

And he sent messengers through all Manasseh, and it too was called out after him; and he sent messengers into Asher and into Zebulun and into Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

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

And Gideon said to God, If you are saving Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,

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

behold, I am setting a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone and drought on all the ground, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.

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

And it was so. He rose early the next day, squeezed the fleece, and wrung dew from the fleece, a bowlful of water.

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

And Gideon said to God, Let not your anger burn against me, that I may speak only this once. Let me test, please, only this once with the fleece: let there be drought on the fleece alone, and on all the ground let there be dew.

וַיַּ֧עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֛ים כֵּ֖ן בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא וַיְהִי חֹ֤רֶב אֶל הַגִּזָּה֙ לְבַדָּ֔הּ וְעַל כָּל הָאָ֖רֶץ הָ֥יָה טָֽל

And God did so that night: drought was on the fleece alone, and on all the ground there was dew.