The Book of Judges, Chapter 8שפטים 8

וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו אִ֣ישׁ אֶפְרַ֗יִם מָֽה הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔נוּ לְבִלְתִּי֙ קְרֹ֣אות לָ֔נוּ כִּ֥י הָלַ֖כְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם בְּמִדְיָ֑ן וַיְרִיב֥וּן אִתּ֖וֹ בְּחָזְקָֽה

And the men of Ephraim said to him, What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian? And they contended with him fiercely.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מֶה עָשִׂ֥יתִי עַתָּ֖ה כָּכֶ֑ם הֲל֗וֹא ט֛וֹב עֹלְל֥וֹת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מִבְצִ֥יר אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר

And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

בְּיֶדְכֶם֩ נָתַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת שָׂרֵ֤י מִדְיָן֙ אֶת עֹרֵ֣ב וְאֶת זְאֵ֔ב וּמַה יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי עֲשׂ֣וֹת כָּכֶ֑ם אָ֗ז רָפְתָ֤ה רוּחָם֙ מֵֽעָלָ֔יו בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה

Into your hand God has given the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger against him subsided when he said this thing.

וַיָּבֹ֥א גִדְע֖וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּ֑נָה עֹבֵ֣ר ה֗וּא וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵא֤וֹת הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ עֲיֵפִ֖ים וְרֹדְפִֽים

And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, weary yet pursuing.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י סֻכּ֔וֹת תְּנוּ נָא֙ כִּכְּר֣וֹת לֶ֔חֶם לָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּרַגְלָ֑י כִּי עֲיֵפִ֣ים הֵ֔ם וְאָנֹכִ֗י רֹדֵ֛ף אַחֲרֵ֛י זֶ֥בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֖ע מַלְכֵ֥י מִדְיָֽן

And he said to the men of Succoth, Please give loaves of bread to the people who are at my feet, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שָׂרֵ֣י סֻכּ֔וֹת הֲ֠כַף זֶ֧בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֛ע עַתָּ֖ה בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי נִתֵּ֥ן לִֽצְבָאֲךָ֖ לָֽחֶם

And the officials of Succoth said, Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גִּדְע֔וֹן לָכֵ֗ן בְּתֵ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֶת זֶ֥בַח וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּ֖ע בְּיָדִ֑י וְדַשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת בְּשַׂרְכֶ֔ם אֶת קוֹצֵ֥י הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְאֶת הַֽבַּרְקֳנִֽים

And Gideon said, Therefore, when YHWH has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with the briers.

וַיַּ֤עַל מִשָּׁם֙ פְּנוּאֵ֔ל וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כָּזֹ֑את וַיַּעֲנ֤וּ אוֹתוֹ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י פְנוּאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָנ֖וּ אַנְשֵׁ֥י סֻכּֽוֹת

And he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר גַּם לְאַנְשֵׁ֥י פְנוּאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בְּשׁוּבִ֣י בְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶתֹּ֖ץ אֶת הַמִּגְדָּ֥ל הַזֶּֽה

And he said also to the men of Penuel, When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower.

וְזֶ֨בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֜ע בַּקַּרְקֹ֗ר וּמַחֲנֵיהֶ֤ם עִמָּם֙ כַּחֲמֵ֤שֶׁת עָשָׂר֙ אֶ֔לֶף כֹּ֚ל הַנּ֣וֹתָרִ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל מַחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי קֶ֑דֶם וְהַנֹּ֣פְלִ֔ים מֵאָ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חָֽרֶב

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of the whole camp of the sons of the east; and those who had fallen were a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword.

וַיַּ֣עַל גִּדְע֗וֹן דֶּ֚רֶךְ הַשְּׁכוּנֵ֣י בָֽאֳהָלִ֔ים מִקֶּ֥דֶם לְנֹ֖בַח וְיָגְבֳּהָ֑ה וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הָ֥יָה בֶֽטַח

And Gideon went up by the way of those who dwell in tents, east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the camp, and the camp was unsuspecting.

וַיָּנ֗וּסוּ זֶ֚בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּלְכֹּ֞ד אֶת שְׁנֵ֣י מַלְכֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן אֶת זֶ֨בַח֙ וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וְכָל הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הֶחֱרִֽיד

And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued after them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and threw the whole camp into panic.

וַיָּ֛שָׁב גִּדְע֥וֹן בֶּן יוֹאָ֖שׁ מִן הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה מִֽלְמַעֲלֵ֖ה הֶחָֽרֶס

And Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle, from the ascent of Heres.

וַיִּלְכָּד נַ֛עַר מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י סֻכּ֖וֹת וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֑הוּ וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב אֵלָ֜יו אֶת שָׂרֵ֤י סֻכּוֹת֙ וְאֶת זְקֵנֶ֔יהָ שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָ֖ה אִֽישׁ

And he captured a young man of the men of Succoth and questioned him, and he wrote down for him the officials of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.

וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל אַנְשֵׁ֣י סֻכּ֔וֹת וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֖ה זֶ֣בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֑ע אֲשֶׁר֩ חֵרַפְתֶּ֨ם אוֹתִ֜י לֵאמֹ֗ר הֲ֠כַף זֶ֣בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֤ע עַתָּה֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ כִּ֥י נִתֵּ֛ן לַאֲנָשֶׁ֥יךָ הַיְּעֵפִ֖ים לָֽחֶם

And he came to the men of Succoth and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?

וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת זִקְנֵ֣י הָעִ֔יר וְאֶת קוֹצֵ֥י הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְאֶת הַֽבַּרְקֳנִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣דַע בָּהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אַנְשֵׁ֥י סֻכּֽוֹת

And he took the elders of the city, and the thorns of the wilderness and the briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

וְאֶת מִגְדַּ֥ל פְּנוּאֵ֖ל נָתָ֑ץ וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֖ג אֶת אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָעִֽיר

And he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶל זֶ֨בַח֙ וְאֶל צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע אֵיפֹה֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲרַגְתֶּ֖ם בְּתָב֑וֹר וַֽיֹּאמרוּ֙ כָּמ֣וֹךָ כְמוֹהֶ֔ם אֶחָ֕ד כְּתֹ֖אַר בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

And he said to Zebah and to Zalmunna, Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor? And they said, As you are, so were they; each one like the form of the sons of a king.

וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אַחַ֥י בְּנֵֽי אִמִּ֖י הֵ֑ם חַי יְהוָ֗ה ל֚וּ הַחֲיִתֶ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם לֹ֥א הָרַ֖גְתִּי אֶתְכֶֽם

And he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as YHWH lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לְיֶ֣תֶר בְּכוֹר֔וֹ ק֖וּם הֲרֹ֣ג אוֹתָ֑ם וְלֹא שָׁלַ֨ף הַנַּ֤עַר חַרְבּוֹ֙ כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔א כִּ֥י עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ נָֽעַר

And he said to Jether his firstborn, Arise, kill them. But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.

וַיֹּ֜אמֶר זֶ֣בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֗ע ק֤וּם אַתָּה֙ וּפְגַע בָּ֔נוּ כִּ֥י כָאִ֖ישׁ גְּבוּרָת֑וֹ וַיָּ֣קָם גִּדְע֗וֹן וַֽיַּהֲרֹג֙ אֶת זֶ֣בַח וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת הַשַּׂ֣הֲרֹנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם

And Zebah and Zalmunna said, Arise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אִֽישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל גִּדְע֔וֹן מְשָׁל בָּ֨נוּ֙ גַּם אַתָּ֔ה גַּם בִּנְךָ֖ גַּ֣ם בֶּן בְּנֶ֑ךָ כִּ֥י הוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖נוּ מִיַּ֥ד מִדְיָֽן

And the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us, you and also your son and also your grandson, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ גִּדְע֔וֹן לֹֽא אֶמְשֹׁ֤ל אֲנִי֙ בָּכֶ֔ם וְלֹֽא יִמְשֹׁ֥ל בְּנִ֖י בָּכֶ֑ם יְהוָ֖ה יִמְשֹׁ֥ל בָּכֶֽם

And Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; YHWH will rule over you.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם גִּדְע֗וֹן אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה מִכֶּם֙ שְׁאֵלָ֔ה וּתְנוּ לִ֕י אִ֖ישׁ נֶ֣זֶם שְׁלָל֑וֹ כִּֽי נִזְמֵ֤י זָהָב֙ לָהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים הֵֽם

And Gideon said to them, Let me make a request of you: give me, each man, an earring of his spoil. For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.

וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ נָת֣וֹן נִתֵּ֑ן וַֽיִּפְרְשׂוּ֙ אֶת הַשִּׂמְלָ֔ה וַיַּשְׁלִ֣יכוּ שָׁ֔מָּה אִ֖ישׁ נֶ֥זֶם שְׁלָלֽוֹ

And they said, We will surely give them. And they spread out the garment, and each man threw there an earring of his spoil.

וַיְהִ֗י מִשְׁקַ֞ל נִזְמֵ֤י הַזָּהָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁאָ֔ל אֶ֥לֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵא֖וֹת זָהָ֑ב לְ֠בַד מִן הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִ֨ים וְהַנְּטִפ֜וֹת וּבִגְדֵ֣י הָאַרְגָּמָ֗ן שֶׁעַל֙ מַלְכֵ֣י מִדְיָ֔ן וּלְבַד֙ מִן הָ֣עֲנָק֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם

And the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred of gold, besides the crescents and the pendants and the purple garments that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the necklaces that were on their camels' necks.

וַיַּעַשׂ֩ אוֹת֨וֹ גִדְע֜וֹן לְאֵפ֗וֹד וַיַּצֵּ֨ג אוֹת֤וֹ בְעִירוֹ֙ בְּעָפְרָ֔ה וַיִּזְנ֧וּ כָֽל יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אַחֲרָ֖יו שָׁ֑ם וַיְהִ֛י לְגִדְע֥וֹן וּלְבֵית֖וֹ לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ

And Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, in Ophrah, and all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.

וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע מִדְיָ֗ן לִפְנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹ֥א יָסְפ֖וּ לָשֵׂ֣את רֹאשָׁ֑ם וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֛רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בִּימֵ֥י גִדְעֽוֹן

So Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel, and they did not again lift their head. And the land was quiet forty years in the days of Gideon.

וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ יְרֻבַּ֥עַל בֶּן יוֹאָ֖שׁ וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּבֵיתֽוֹ

And Jerubbaal son of Joash went and lived in his house.

וּלְגִדְע֗וֹן הָיוּ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים בָּנִ֔ים יֹצְאֵ֖י יְרֵכ֑וֹ כִּֽי נָשִׁ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹת הָ֥יוּ לֽוֹ

And Gideon had seventy sons who came out of his thigh, for he had many wives.

וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁכֶ֔ם יָֽלְדָה לּ֥וֹ גַם הִ֖יא בֵּ֑ן וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת שְׁמ֖וֹ אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

וַיָּ֛מָת גִּדְע֥וֹן בֶּן יוֹאָ֖שׁ בְּשֵׂיבָ֣ה טוֹבָ֑ה וַיִּקָּבֵ֗ר בְּקֶ֨בֶר֙ יוֹאָ֣שׁ אָבִ֔יו בְּעָפְרָ֖ה אֲבִ֥י הָֽעֶזְרִֽי

And Gideon son of Joash died in a good old age, and he was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrite.

וַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ מֵ֣ת גִּדְע֔וֹן וַיָּשׁ֨וּבוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּזְנ֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַבְּעָלִ֑ים וַיָּשִׂ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם בַּ֥עַל בְּרִ֖ית לֵאלֹהִֽים

And as soon as Gideon died, the sons of Israel turned and whored after the Baals, and they made Baal-berith their god.

וְלֹ֤א זָֽכְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם הַמַּצִּ֥יל אוֹתָ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד כָּל אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב

And the sons of Israel did not remember YHWH their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies around them.

וְלֹֽא עָשׂ֣וּ חֶ֔סֶד עִם בֵּ֥ית יְרֻבַּ֖עַל גִּדְע֑וֹן כְּכָל הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה עִם יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And they did not deal faithfully with the house of Jerubbaal Gideon, according to all the good that he had done with Israel.