Gideon’s Army of Three Hundred

1  וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם (And rose early) יְרֻבַּ֜עַל (Jerubbaal) ה֣וּא (he is) גִדְע֗וֹן (Gideon)) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֔וֹ (with him) וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ (and they encamped) עַל־ (beside) עֵ֣ין (the well) חֲרֹ֑ד (of Harod), וּמַחֲנֵ֤ה (so that the camp) מִדְיָן֙ (of the Midianite) הָיָה־ (was) ל֣וֹ (of them) מִצָּפ֔וֹן (on the north side) מִגִּבְעַ֥ת (by the hill) הַמּוֹרֶ֖ה (of Moreh) בָּעֵֽמֶק׃ (in the valley).

2  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) גִּדְע֔וֹן (Gideon), רַ֗ב (Are too many) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who are) אִתָּ֔ךְ (with you) מִתִּתִּ֥י (for My giving) אֶת־ (-) מִדְיָ֖ן (the Midianite) בְּיָדָ֑ם (into their hands), פֶּן־ (lest) יִתְפָּאֵ֨ר (glorify itself) עָלַ֤י (against Me) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), יָדִ֖י (My own hand) הוֹשִׁ֥יעָה (has saved) לִּֽי׃ (me). 3  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) קְרָ֨א (proclaim), נָ֜א (please), בְּאָזְנֵ֤י (in the ears) הָעָם֙ (of the people), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מִֽי־ (Who is) יָרֵ֣א (fearful) וְחָרֵ֔ד (and afraid), יָשֹׁ֥ב (let him turn) וְיִצְפֹּ֖ר (and depart at once) מֵהַ֣ר (from Mount) הַגִּלְעָ֑ד (Gilead).

וַיָּ֣שָׁב (And returned) מִן־ (of) הָעָ֗ם (the people) עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (twenty) וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ (and two) אֶ֔לֶף (thousand); וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת (and ten) אֲלָפִ֖ים (thousand) נִשְׁאָֽרוּ׃ס (remained).

4  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) גִּדְע֗וֹן (Gideon), עוֹד֮ (Still) הָעָ֣ם (the people are) רָב֒ (too many); הוֹרֵ֤ד (bring them down) אוֹתָם֙ (-) אֶל־ (to) הַמַּ֔יִם (the water), וְאֶצְרְפֶ֥נּוּ (and I will refine it) לְךָ֖ (for you) שָׁ֑ם (there). וְהָיָ֡ה (And it will be that) אֲשֶׁר֩ (of whom) אֹמַ֨ר (I say) אֵלֶ֜יךָ (to you), זֶ֣ה׀ (This one) יֵלֵ֣ךְ (shall go) אִתָּ֗ךְ (with you), ה֚וּא (he) יֵלֵ֣ךְ (shall go) אִתָּ֔ךְ (with you); וְכֹ֨ל (and) אֲשֶׁר־ (of whomever) אֹמַ֜ר (I say) אֵלֶ֗יךָ (to you), זֶ֚ה (This one) לֹא־ (not) יֵלֵ֣ךְ (shall go) עִמָּ֔ךְ (with you), ה֖וּא (he) לֹ֥א (not) יֵלֵֽךְ׃ (shall go).

5  וַיּ֥וֹרֶד (And he brought down) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּ֑יִםס (the water). וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) גִּדְע֗וֹן (Gideon), כֹּ֣ל (Everyone) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יָלֹק֩ (laps) בִּלְשׁוֹנ֨וֹ (with his tongue) מִן־ (from) הַמַּ֜יִם (the water) כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר (as) יָלֹ֣ק (laps) הַכֶּ֗לֶב (a dog), תַּצִּ֤יג (you shall set apart) אוֹתוֹ֙ (-) לְבָ֔ד (by himself), וְכֹ֛ל (and likewise everyone) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יִכְרַ֥ע (gets down) עַל־ (on) בִּרְכָּ֖יו (his knees) לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃ (to drink). 6  וַיְהִ֗י (And was) מִסְפַּ֞ר (the number) הַֽמֲלַקְקִ֤ים (of those lapping) בְּיָדָם֙ (with their hand) אֶל־ (to) פִּיהֶ֔ם (their mouth) שְׁלֹ֥שׁ (three) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) אִ֑ישׁ (men); וְכֹל֙ (and all) יֶ֣תֶר (the rest) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) כָּרְע֥וּ (got down) עַל־ (on) בִּרְכֵיהֶ֖ם (their knees) לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת (to drink) מָֽיִם׃ס (water).

7  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) גִּדְע֗וֹן (Gideon), בִּשְׁלֹשׁ֩ (By the three) מֵא֨וֹת (hundred) הָאִ֤ישׁ (men) הַֽמֲלַקְקִים֙ (who are lapping) אוֹשִׁ֣יעַ (I will save) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) וְנָתַתִּ֥י (and deliver) אֶת־ (-) מִדְיָ֖ן (the Midianite) בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (into your hand); וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֔ם (the people), יֵלְכ֖וּ (let go) אִ֥ישׁ (every man) לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃ (to his place).

8  וַיִּקְח֣וּ (And took) אֶת־ (-) צֵדָה֩ (provisions) הָעָ֨ם (the people) בְּיָדָ֜ם (in their hands), וְאֵ֣ת (and) שׁוֹפְרֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם (their shofars), וְאֵ֨ת (and) כָּל־ (and every) אִ֤ישׁ (man) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) שִׁלַּח֙ (he sent away), אִ֣ישׁ (every man) לְאֹֽהָלָ֔יו (to his tent), וּבִשְׁלֹשׁ־ (and three) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) הָאִ֖ישׁ (the men) הֶֽחֱזִ֑יק (he kept hold), וּמַחֲנֵ֣ה (and the camp) מִדְיָ֔ן (of Midian) הָ֥יָה (was) ל֖וֹ (him) מִתַּ֥חַת (below) בָּעֵֽמֶק׃פ (in the valley).

The Sword of Gideon

9  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it happened) בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (on the night) הַה֔וּא (that), וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), ק֖וּם (Arise), רֵ֣ד (go down) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (against the camp), כִּ֥י (for) נְתַתִּ֖יו (I have delivered it) בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃ (into your hand). 10  וְאִם־ (But if) יָרֵ֥א (are afraid) אַתָּ֖ה (you) לָרֶ֑דֶת (to go down), רֵ֥ד (go down) אַתָּ֛ה (you) וּפֻרָ֥ה (and Purah) נַעַרְךָ֖ (your servant) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (the camp), 11  וְשָֽׁמַעְתָּ֙ (and you shall hear) מַה־ (what) יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ (they say), וְאַחַר֙ (and afterward) תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה (shall be strengthened) יָדֶ֔יךָ (your hand) וְיָרַדְתָּ֖ (and to go down) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (against the camp). וַיֵּ֤רֶד (And went down) הוּא֙ (he) וּפֻרָ֣ה (and Purah) נַעֲר֔וֹ (his young man) אֶל־ (to) קְצֵ֥ה (the outpost) הַחֲמֻשִׁ֖ים (of the armed men) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (in the camp).

12  וּמִדְיָ֨ן (And the Midianite) וַעֲמָלֵ֤ק (and Amalekite) וְכָל־ (and all) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) קֶ֙דֶם֙ (of the East) נֹפְלִ֣ים (were lying) בָּעֵ֔מֶק (in the valley) כָּאַרְבֶּ֖ה (as the locust) לָרֹ֑ב (in multitude), וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶם֙ (and their camels were) אֵ֣ין (without) מִסְפָּ֔ר (number), כַּח֛וֹל (as the sand) שֶׁעַל־ (by) שְׂפַ֥ת (the shore) הַיָּ֖ם (of the sea) לָרֹֽב׃ (in multitude). 13  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And had come) גִדְע֔וֹן (Gideon), וְהִ֨נֵּה־ (and there was) אִ֔ישׁ (a man) מְסַפֵּ֥ר (telling) לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ (to his companion) חֲל֑וֹם (a dream), וַיֹּ֜אמֶר (and He said), הִנֵּ֧ה (Behold), חֲל֣וֹם (a dream) חָלַ֗מְתִּי (I have had). וְהִנֵּ֨ה (And behold), צְלוֹל (a loaf) לֶ֤חֶם (of bread) שְׂעֹרִים֙ (barley) מִתְהַפֵּךְ֙ (tumbled) בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה (into the camp) מִדְיָ֔ן (of Midian), וַיָּבֹ֣א (and it came) עַד־ (to) הָ֠אֹהֶל (a tent) וַיַּכֵּ֧הוּ (and struck it) וַיִּפֹּ֛ל (so that it fell), וַיַּהַפְכֵ֥הוּ (and it overturned) לְמַ֖עְלָה (upwards) וְנָפַ֥ל (and collapsed) הָאֹֽהֶל׃ (the tent).

14  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) רֵעֵ֤הוּ (his companion) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), אֵ֣ין (Nothing) זֹ֔את (this is) בִּלְתִּ֗י (except) אִם־ (but) חֶ֛רֶב (the sword) גִּדְע֥וֹן (of Gideon) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹאָ֖שׁ (of Joash), אִ֣ישׁ (a man) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). נָתַ֤ן (Has delivered) הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (God) בְּיָד֔וֹ (into his hand) אֶת־ (-) מִדְיָ֖ן (Midian) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃פ (the camp).

Gideon Defeats Midian

15  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ (when heard) גִּדְע֜וֹן (Gideon) אֶת־ (-) מִסְפַּ֧ר (the telling) הַחֲל֛וֹם (of the dream) וְאֶת־ (and) שִׁבְר֖וֹ (its interpretation), וַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ (that he bowed in worship) וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ (and he returned) אֶל־ (to) מַחֲנֵ֣ה (the camp) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said), ק֔וּמוּ (Arise), כִּֽי־ (for) נָתַ֧ן (has delivered) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) בְּיֶדְכֶ֖ם (into your⁺ hands) אֶת־ (-) מַחֲנֵ֥ה (the camp) מִדְיָֽן׃ (of Midian). 16  וַיַּ֛חַץ (And he divided) אֶת־ (-) שְׁלֹשׁ־ (three) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) הָאִ֖ישׁ (the men) שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (into three) רָאשִׁ֑ים (companies), וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (and he put) שׁוֹפָר֤וֹת (shofars) בְּיַד־ (into hand) כֻּלָּם֙ (of every man), וְכַדִּ֣ים (and pitchers) רֵקִ֔ים (empty), וְלַפִּדִ֖ים (and torches) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) הַכַּדִּֽים׃ (of the pitchers).

17  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them), מִמֶּ֥נִּי (At me) תִרְא֖וּ (You⁺ shall look), וְכֵ֣ן (and likewise) תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ (you⁺ shall do) וְהִנֵּ֨ה (and behold). אָנֹכִ֥י (I) בָא֙ (am coming) בִּקְצֵ֣ה (to the edge) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (of the camp), וְהָיָ֥ה (and) כַאֲשֶׁר־ (as) אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה (I do), כֵּ֥ן (so) תַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ (you⁺ shall do). 18  וְתָקַעְתִּי֙ (And I will blow) בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר (on the shofar), אָנֹכִ֖י (I) וְכָל־ (and all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) אִתִּ֑י (are with me) וּתְקַעְתֶּ֨ם (and you⁺ shall blow) בַּשּׁוֹפָר֜וֹת (on the shofars) גַּם־ (even), אַתֶּ֗ם (you⁺) סְבִיבוֹת֙ (on every side) כָּל־ (of all) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (the camp) וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺ shall say), לַיהוָ֥ה (For YHWH) וּלְגִדְעֽוֹן׃פ (and for Gideon).

19  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And came) גִ֠דְעוֹן (Gideon), וּמֵאָה־ (and hundred) אִ֨ישׁ (the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֜וֹ (with him) בִּקְצֵ֣ה (to the outpost) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה (of the camp) רֹ֚אשׁ (at the beginning) הָאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת (of the watch) הַתִּֽיכוֹנָ֔ה (middle), אַ֛ךְ (just after) הָקֵ֥ם (stationing) הֵקִ֖ימוּ (they had stationed) אֶת־ (-) הַשֹּֽׁמְרִ֑ים (of the guard). וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ֙ (And they blew) בַּשּׁ֣וֹפָר֔וֹת (on the shofars) וְנָפ֥וֹץ (and shattered) הַכַּדִּ֖ים (the pitchers) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that were) בְּיָדָֽם׃ (in their hands). 20  וַֽ֠יִּתְקְעוּ (And blew) שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת (three) הָרָאשִׁ֥ים (the companies) בַּשּֽׁוֹפָרוֹת֮ (on the shofars), וַיִּשְׁבְּר֣וּ (and broke) הַכַּדִּים֒ (the pitchers), וַיַּחֲזִ֤יקוּ (and they held) בְיַד־ (in hand) שְׂמאוֹלָם֙ (their left) בַּלַּפִּדִ֔ים (the torches) וּבְיַ֨ד־ (and in hand) יְמִינָ֔ם (their right) הַשּׁוֹפָר֖וֹת (the shofars) לִתְק֑וֹעַ (for blowing), וַֽיִּקְרְא֔וּ (and they cried out), חֶ֥רֶב (A sword) לַֽיהוָ֖ה (for YHWH), וּלְגִדְעֽוֹן׃ (and for Gideon).

21  וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ (And stood) אִ֣ישׁ (every man) תַּחְתָּ֔יו (in his place) סָבִ֖יב (all around) לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (the camp), וַיָּ֧רָץ (and ran) כָּל־ (and all) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה (the camp) וַיָּרִ֖יעוּ (and cried out) וַיָּנִיסוּ׃ (and fled). 22  וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ֮ (And blew) שְׁלֹשׁ־ (the three) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) הַשּׁוֹפָרוֹת֒ (the shofars), וַיָּ֣שֶׂם (and set) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) אֵ֣ת (-) חֶ֥רֶב (the sword) אִ֛ישׁ (of every man) בְּרֵעֵ֖הוּ (against his companion) וּבְכָל־ (and against all) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (the camp), וַיָּ֨נָס (and fled) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה (the camp) עַד־ (to) בֵּ֤ית (Beth-) הַשִּׁטָּה֙ (shittah) צְֽרֵרָ֔תָה (toward Zererah), עַ֛ד (as far as) שְׂפַת־ (the border) אָבֵ֥ל (of Abel-) מְחוֹלָ֖ה (meholah) עַל־ (by) טַבָּֽת׃ (Tabbath). 23  וַיִּצָּעֵ֧ק (And gathered together) אִֽישׁ־ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) מִנַּפְתָּלִ֥י (from Naphtali) וּמִן־ (and) אָשֵׁ֖ר (Asher), וּמִן־ (and) כָּל־ (all) מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה (Manasseh), וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ (and they pursued) אַחֲרֵ֥י (after) מִדְיָֽן׃ (the Midianite).

24  וּמַלְאָכִ֡ים (And messengers) שָׁלַ֣ח (sent) גִּדְעוֹן֩ (Gideon) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) הַ֨ר (the hill country) אֶפְרַ֜יִם (of Ephraim), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), רְד֞וּ (Come down) לִקְרַ֤את (against) מִדְיָן֙ (the Midianite), וְלִכְד֤וּ (and seize) לָהֶם֙ (from them) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּ֔יִם (the watering places) עַ֛ד (as far as) בֵּ֥ית (Beth-) בָּרָ֖ה (barah) וְאֶת־ (and) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (the Jordan). וַיִּצָּעֵ֞ק (And gathered together) כָּל־ (all) אִ֤ישׁ (the men) אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (of Ephraim) וַיִּלְכְּד֣וּ (and seized) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּ֔יִם (the watering places) עַ֛ד (as far as) בֵּ֥ית (Beth-) בָּרָ֖ה (barah) וְאֶת־ (and) הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (the Jordan). 25  וַֽיִּלְכְּד֡וּ (And they captured) שְׁנֵֽי־ (two) שָׂרֵ֨י (princes) מִדְיָ֜ן (of Midian), אֶת־ (-) עֹרֵ֣ב (Oreb) וְאֶת־ (and) זְאֵ֗ב (Zeeb); וַיַּהַרְג֨וּ (and they killed) אֶת־ (-) עוֹרֵ֤ב (Oreb) בְּצוּר־ (at the rock) עוֹרֵב֙ (of Oreb), וְאֶת־ (and) זְאֵב֙ (Zeeb) הָרְג֣וּ (they killed) בְיֶֽקֶב־ (at the winepress) זְאֵ֔ב (of Zeeb), וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ (and pursuing) אֶל־ (-) מִדְיָ֑ן (the Midianite) וְרֹאשׁ־ (and the heads) עֹרֵ֣ב (of Oreb) וּזְאֵ֔ב (and Zeeb), הֵבִ֙יאוּ֙ (they brought them) אֶל־ (to) גִּדְע֔וֹן (Gideon) מֵעֵ֖בֶר (on the other side) לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (of the Jordan).