Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna

1  וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (And said) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) אֶפְרַ֗יִם (of Ephraim), מָֽה־ (What is) הַדָּבָ֤ר (the thing) הַזֶּה֙ (this) עָשִׂ֣יתָ (you have done) לָּ֔נוּ (to us) לְבִלְתִּי֙ (by not) קְרֹ֣אות (calling) לָ֔נוּ (us) כִּ֥י (when) הָלַ֖כְתָּ (you went) לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם (to fight) בְּמִדְיָ֑ן (against Midian)? וַיְרִיב֥וּן (And they contended) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) בְּחָזְקָֽה׃ (in strength).

2  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them), מֶה־ (What) עָשִׂ֥יתִי (have I done) עַתָּ֖ה (now) כָּכֶ֑ם (compared to you⁺)? הֲל֗וֹא (Are not) ט֛וֹב (better) עֹלְל֥וֹת (the gleanings) אֶפְרַ֖יִם (of Ephraim) מִבְצִ֥יר (than the vintage) אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר׃ (of Abiezer)? 3  בְּיֶדְכֶם֩ (Into your⁺ hands) נָתַ֨ן (has delivered) אֱלֹהִ֜ים (God) אֶת־ (-) שָׂרֵ֤י (the princes) מִדְיָן֙ (of Midian), אֶת־ (-) עֹרֵ֣ב (Oreb) וְאֶת־ (and) זְאֵ֔ב (Zeeb). וּמַה־ (And what) יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי (was I able) עֲשׂ֣וֹת (to do) כָּכֶ֑ם (compared to you⁺)? אָ֗ז (Then) רָפְתָ֤ה (subsided) רוּחָם֙ (their spirit) מֵֽעָלָ֔יו (toward him) בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ (when he said) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the word) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

4  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And came) גִדְע֖וֹן (Gideon) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑נָה (to the Jordan), עֹבֵ֣ר (passing over), ה֗וּא (he) וּשְׁלֹשׁ־ (and the three) מֵא֤וֹת (hundred) הָאִישׁ֙ (men) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֔וֹ (with him), עֲיֵפִ֖ים (exhausted) וְרֹדְפִֽים׃ (and pursuing). 5  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said) לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י (to the men) סֻכּ֔וֹת (of Succoth), תְּנוּ־ (Give), נָא֙ (please), כִּכְּר֣וֹת (loaves) לֶ֔חֶם (of bread) לָעָ֖ם (to the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) בְּרַגְלָ֑י (are at my feet), כִּי־ (for) עֲיֵפִ֣ים (are exhausted) הֵ֔ם (they), וְאָנֹכִ֗י (and I) רֹדֵ֛ף (am pursuing) אַחֲרֵ֛י (after) זֶ֥בַח (Zebah) וְצַלְמֻנָּ֖ע (and Zalmunna), מַלְכֵ֥י (the kings) מִדְיָֽן׃ (of Midian).

6  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) שָׂרֵ֣י (the leaders) סֻכּ֔וֹת (of Succoth), הֲ֠כַף (Is the palm) זֶ֧בַח (of Zebah) וְצַלְמֻנָּ֛ע (and Zalmunna) עַתָּ֖ה (now) בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (in your hand), כִּֽי־ (that) נִתֵּ֥ן (we should give) לִֽצְבָאֲךָ֖ (to your army) לָֽחֶם׃ (bread)?

7  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) גִּדְע֔וֹן (Gideon), לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore), בְּתֵ֧ת (when has delivered) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) זֶ֥בַח (Zebah) וְאֶת־ (and) צַלְמֻנָּ֖ע (Zalmunna) בְּיָדִ֑י (into my hand), וְדַשְׁתִּי֙ (and I will tear) אֶת־ (-) בְּשַׂרְכֶ֔ם (your⁺ flesh) אֶת־ (with) קוֹצֵ֥י (the thorns) הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר (of the wilderness) וְאֶת־ (and with) הַֽבַּרְקֳנִֽים׃ (briers).

8  וַיַּ֤עַל (And he went up) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) פְּנוּאֵ֔ל (to Penuel), וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (and spoke) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) כָּזֹ֑את (thus); וַיַּעֲנ֤וּ (and answered) אוֹתוֹ֙ (him) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) פְנוּאֵ֔ל (of Penuel) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) עָנ֖וּ (had answered) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (the men) סֻכּֽוֹת׃ (of Succoth). 9  וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (And he spoke) גַּם־ (also) לְאַנְשֵׁ֥י (to the men) פְנוּאֵ֖ל (of Penuel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), בְּשׁוּבִ֣י (When I come back) בְשָׁל֔וֹם (in peace), אֶתֹּ֖ץ (I will tear down) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּגְדָּ֥ל (the tower) הַזֶּֽה׃פ (this).

10  וְזֶ֨בַח (And Zebah) וְצַלְמֻנָּ֜ע (and Zalmunna were) בַּקַּרְקֹ֗ר (at Karkor), וּמַחֲנֵיהֶ֤ם (and their camps) עִמָּם֙ (with them) כַּחֲמֵ֤שֶׁת (about five) עָשָׂר֙ (and ten) אֶ֔לֶף (thousand) כֹּ֚ל (all) הַנּ֣וֹתָרִ֔ים (who were left) מִכֹּ֖ל (of all) מַחֲנֵ֣ה (the camp) בְנֵי־ (of the sons) קֶ֑דֶם (of the East); וְהַנֹּ֣פְלִ֔ים (and for had fallen) מֵאָ֨ה (a hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (and twenty) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) שֹׁ֥לֵֽף (who drew) חָֽרֶב׃ (the sword). 11  וַיַּ֣עַל (And went up) גִּדְע֗וֹן (Gideon) דֶּ֚רֶךְ (by the road) הַשְּׁכוּנֵ֣י (of those who dwell) בָֽאֳהָלִ֔ים (in tents) מִקֶּ֥דֶם (on the east) לְנֹ֖בַח (of Nobah) וְיָגְבֳּהָ֑ה (and Jogbehah), וַיַּךְ֙ (and he attacked) אֶת־ (-) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (the camp) וְהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (and the camp) הָ֥יָה (was) בֶֽטַח׃ (in security). 12  וַיָּנ֗וּסוּ (And fled) זֶ֚בַח (Zebah) וְצַלְמֻנָּ֔ע (and Zalmunna), וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף (and he pursued) אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם (them), וַיִּלְכֹּ֞ד (and he took) אֶת־ (-) שְׁנֵ֣י׀ (two) מַלְכֵ֣י (the kings) מִדְיָ֗ן (of Midian), אֶת־ (-) זֶ֙בַח֙ (Zebah) וְאֶת־ (and) צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע (Zalmunna), וְכָל־ (and all) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (the camp) הֶחֱרִֽיד׃ (he made tremble).

13  וַיָּ֛שָׁב (And returned) גִּדְע֥וֹן (Gideon) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹאָ֖שׁ (of Joash) מִן־ (from) הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (battle) מִֽלְמַעֲלֵ֖ה (along the Ascent) הֶחָֽרֶס׃ (of Heres). 14  וַיִּלְכָּד־ (And he caught) נַ֛עַר (a young man) מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י (of the men) סֻכּ֖וֹת (of Succoth), וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֑הוּ (and questioned him) וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב (and he wrote down) אֵלָ֜יו (for him) אֶת־ (-) שָׂרֵ֤י (the leaders) סֻכּוֹת֙ (of Succoth) וְאֶת־ (and) זְקֵנֶ֔יהָ (its elders)— שִׁבְעִ֥ים (seventy) וְשִׁבְעָ֖ה (and seven) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

15  וַיָּבֹא֙ (And he came) אֶל־ (to) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) סֻכּ֔וֹת (of Succoth) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), הִנֵּ֖ה (Here are) זֶ֣בַח (Zebah) וְצַלְמֻנָּ֑ע (and Zalmunna), אֲשֶׁר֩ (about whom) חֵרַפְתֶּ֨ם (you⁺ taunted) אוֹתִ֜י (me), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), הֲ֠כַף (Is the palm) זֶ֣בַח (of Zebah) וְצַלְמֻנָּ֤ע (and Zalmunna) עַתָּה֙ (now) בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ (in your hand), כִּ֥י (that) נִתֵּ֛ן (we should give) לַאֲנָשֶׁ֥יךָ (to your men) הַיְּעֵפִ֖ים (who are weary) לָֽחֶם׃ (bread). 16  וַיִּקַּח֙ (And he took) אֶת־ (-) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) הָעִ֔יר (of the city), וְאֶת־ (and) קוֹצֵ֥י (thorns) הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר (of the wilderness) וְאֶת־ (and) הַֽבַּרְקֳנִ֑ים (briers), וַיֹּ֣דַע (and he taught) בָּהֶ֔ם (with them) אֵ֖ת (-) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (the men) סֻכּֽוֹת׃ (of Succoth). 17  וְאֶת־ (And) מִגְדַּ֥ל (the tower) פְּנוּאֵ֖ל (of Penuel) נָתָ֑ץ (he tore down), וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֖ג (and killed) אֶת־ (-) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (the men) הָעִֽיר׃ (of the city).

18  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said) אֶל־ (to) זֶ֙בַח֙ (Zebah) וְאֶל־ (and) צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע (Zalmunna), אֵיפֹה֙ (What kind) הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (of men were they) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֲרַגְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ killed) בְּתָב֑וֹר (at Tabor)?

וַֽיֹּאמרוּ֙ (And they answered), כָּמ֣וֹךָ (As you are) כְמוֹהֶ֔ם (so were they); אֶחָ֕ד (each one) כְּתֹ֖אַר (resembled) בְּנֵ֥י (the son) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of a king).

19  וַיֹּאמַ֕ר (And he said), אַחַ֥י (My brothers), בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) אִמִּ֖י (of my mother), הֵ֑ם (they were). חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), ל֚וּ (if) הַחֲיִתֶ֣ם (you⁺ had let live) אוֹתָ֔ם (them), לֹ֥א (not) הָרַ֖גְתִּי (I would kill) אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (you⁺).

20  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said) לְיֶ֣תֶר (to Jether) בְּכוֹר֔וֹ (his firstborn), ק֖וּם (Rise), הֲרֹ֣ג (and kill) אוֹתָ֑ם (them). וְלֹא־ (Not) שָׁלַ֨ף (would draw) הַנַּ֤עַר (the youth) חַרְבּוֹ֙ (his sword), כִּ֣י (for) יָרֵ֔א (he was afraid), כִּ֥י (for) עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ (he was still) נָֽעַר׃ (a youth).

21  וַיֹּ֜אמֶר (And said) זֶ֣בַח (Zebah) וְצַלְמֻנָּ֗ע (and Zalmunna), ק֤וּם (Rise) אַתָּה֙ (yourself) וּפְגַע־ (and kill) בָּ֔נוּ (us), כִּ֥י (for) כָאִ֖ישׁ (as the man), גְּבוּרָת֑וֹ (is his strength). וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) גִּדְע֗וֹן (Gideon) וַֽיַּהֲרֹג֙ (and killed) אֶת־ (-) זֶ֣בַח (Zebah) וְאֶת־ (and) צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע (Zalmunna), וַיִּקַּח֙ (and he took) אֶת־ (-) הַשַּׂ֣הֲרֹנִ֔ים (the crescent ornaments) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that were) בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י (on the necks) גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם׃ (of their camels).

Gideon’s Ephod

22  וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (And said) אִֽישׁ־ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) גִּדְע֔וֹן (Gideon), מְשָׁל־ (Rule) בָּ֙נוּ֙ (over us), גַּם־ (both) אַתָּ֔ה (you) גַּם־ (and) בִּנְךָ֖ (your son), גַּ֣ם (and also) בֶּן־ (your son’s) בְּנֶ֑ךָ (son), כִּ֥י (for) הוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖נוּ (you have delivered us) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) מִדְיָֽן׃ (of Midian).

23  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) גִּדְע֔וֹן (Gideon), לֹֽא־ (Not) אֶמְשֹׁ֤ל (will rule) אֲנִי֙ (I) בָּכֶ֔ם (over you⁺), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִמְשֹׁ֥ל (shall rule) בְּנִ֖י (my son) בָּכֶ֑ם (over you⁺). יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) יִמְשֹׁ֥ל (shall rule) בָּכֶֽם׃ (over you⁺).

24  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶ֜ם (to them) גִּדְע֗וֹן (Gideon), אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה (I would like to make) מִכֶּם֙ (of you⁺) שְׁאֵלָ֔ה (a request), וּתְנוּ־ (that would give) לִ֕י (to me) אִ֖ישׁ (each of you) נֶ֣זֶם (the rings from) שְׁלָל֑וֹ (his plunder). כִּֽי־ (For) נִזְמֵ֤י (rings) זָהָב֙ (gold), לָהֶ֔ם (were unto them) כִּ֥י (because) יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים (Ishmaelites) הֵֽם׃ (they were).

25  וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (And they answered), נָת֣וֹן (Giving) נִתֵּ֑ן (we will give them).

וַֽיִּפְרְשׂוּ֙ (And they spread out) אֶת־ (-) הַשִּׂמְלָ֔ה (a garment), וַיַּשְׁלִ֣יכוּ (and threw) שָׁ֔מָּה (into it) אִ֖ישׁ (each man) נֶ֥זֶם (the rings from) שְׁלָלֽוֹ׃ (his plunder). 26  וַיְהִ֗י (And was) מִשְׁקַ֞ל (the weight) נִזְמֵ֤י (of rings) הַזָּהָב֙ (the gold) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שָׁאָ֔ל (he requested) אֶ֥לֶף (a thousand) וּשְׁבַע־ (and seven) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) זָהָ֑ב (shekels of gold), לְ֠בַד (apart) מִן־ (from) הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִ֨ים (the crescent ornaments) וְהַנְּטִפ֜וֹת (and pendants) וּבִגְדֵ֣י (and robes) הָאַרְגָּמָ֗ן (purple) שֶׁעַל֙ (that were on) מַלְכֵ֣י (the kings) מִדְיָ֔ן (of Midian), וּלְבַד֙ (and apart) מִן־ (from) הָ֣עֲנָק֔וֹת (the chains) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that were) בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י (around necks) גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם׃ (of their camels).

27  וַיַּעַשׂ֩ (And made) אוֹת֨וֹ (it) גִדְע֜וֹן (Gideon) לְאֵפ֗וֹד (into an ephod), וַיַּצֵּ֨ג (and set up) אוֹת֤וֹ (it) בְעִירוֹ֙ (in his city), בְּעָפְרָ֔ה (in Ophrah). וַיִּזְנ֧וּ (And played the prostitute) כָֽל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (Israel) אַחֲרָ֖יו (with it) שָׁ֑ם (there), וַיְהִ֛י (and it became) לְגִדְע֥וֹן (to Gideon) וּלְבֵית֖וֹ (and to his house) לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃ (a snare).

Forty Years of Peace

28  וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע (And was subdued) מִדְיָ֗ן (Midian) לִפְנֵי֙ (before the faces of) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), וְלֹ֥א (so that no) יָסְפ֖וּ (more) לָשֵׂ֣את (they lifted uo) רֹאשָׁ֑ם (their head). וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט (And was quiet) הָאָ֛רֶץ (the country) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (forty) שָׁנָ֖ה (years) בִּימֵ֥י (in the days) גִדְעֽוֹן׃פ (of Gideon). 29  וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ (And went) יְרֻבַּ֥עַל (Jerubbaal) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹאָ֖שׁ (of Joash) וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and dwelt) בְּבֵיתֽוֹ׃ (in his own house).

30  וּלְגִדְע֗וֹן (And Gideon) הָיוּ֙ (had) שִׁבְעִ֣ים (seventy) בָּנִ֔ים (sons) יֹצְאֵ֖י (coming from) יְרֵכ֑וֹ (his loin), כִּֽי־ (for) נָשִׁ֥ים (wives) רַבּ֖וֹת (many) הָ֥יוּ (were) לֽוֹ׃ (unto him). 31  וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ (And his concubine) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who was) בִּשְׁכֶ֔ם (in Shechem), יָֽלְדָה־ (bore) לּ֥וֹ (him) גַם־ (also) הִ֖יא (she) בֵּ֑ן (a son), וַיָּ֥שֶׂם (and he called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ (Abimelech).

Gideon’s Death

32  וַיָּ֛מָת (And died) גִּדְע֥וֹן (Gideon) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹאָ֖שׁ (of Joash) בְּשֵׂיבָ֣ה (at a old age) טוֹבָ֑ה (good), וַיִּקָּבֵ֗ר (and he was buried) בְּקֶ֙בֶר֙ (in the tomb) יוֹאָ֣שׁ (of Joash) אָבִ֔יו (his father) בְּעָפְרָ֖ה (in Ophrah of) אֲבִ֥י (the Abi-) הָֽעֶזְרִֽי׃פ (ezrites).

33  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (as soon as) מֵ֣ת (was dead) גִּדְע֔וֹן (Gideon), וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ (that turned back) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) וַיִּזְנ֖וּ (and played the prostitute) אַחֲרֵ֣י (with) הַבְּעָלִ֑ים (the Baals) וַיָּשִׂ֧ימוּ (and they set up) לָהֶ֛ם (to them) בַּ֥עַל (Baal-) בְּרִ֖ית (berith) לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ (for a god).

34  וְלֹ֤א (And not) זָֽכְרוּ֙ (did remember) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (their God), הַמַּצִּ֥יל (who had delivered) אוֹתָ֛ם (them) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hands) כָּל־ (of all) אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם (their enemies) מִסָּבִֽיב׃ (on every side), 35  וְלֹֽא־ (and not) עָשׂ֣וּ (did they show) חֶ֔סֶד (kindness) עִם־ (to) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְרֻבַּ֖עַל (of Jerubbaal) גִּדְע֑וֹן (Gideon)) כְּכָל־ (in accordance with) הַטּוֹבָ֔ה (the good) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (he had done) עִם־ (for) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (Israel).