Tanach
Shoftim 20:35-48 שופטים כ׳:ל״ה-מ״ח
Part of: Chapter 20
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיִּגֹּף יְהֹוָה ׀ אֶֽת־בִּנְיָמִן לִפְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּבִנְיָמִן בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא עֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף וּמֵאָה אִישׁ כׇּל־אֵלֶּה שֹׁלֵֽף־חָֽרֶב׃
Adonoy shattered Binyomin before Yisroel. The Bnei Yisroel annihilated, of Binyomin, on that day, twenty five thousand, one hundred troops, all of them sabre wielders.
Adonoy shattered Binyomin before Yisroel. The Bnei Yisroel annihilated, of Binyomin, on that day, twenty five thousand, one hundred troops, all of them sabre wielders.
וַיִּרְאוּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִן כִּי נִגָּפוּ וַיִּתְּנוּ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל מָקוֹם לְבִנְיָמִן כִּי בָֽטְחוּ אֶל־הָאֹרֵב אֲשֶׁר־שָׂמוּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃
The Bnei Binyomin realized that they were shattered. The Yisroelite troops gave ground to Binyomin, since they relied on the ambushers whom they had positioned at Givoh.
The Bnei Binyomin realized that they were shattered. The Yisroelite troops gave ground to Binyomin, since they relied on the ambushers whom they had positioned at Givoh.
Rashi
וְהָאֹרֵב הֵחִישׁוּ וַֽיִּפְשְׁטוּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָה וַיִּמְשֹׁךְ הָאֹרֵב וַיַּךְ אֶת־כׇּל־הָעִיר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃
The ambushers charged, and fanned out toward Givoh. The ambushers sounded the signal, and struck down the entire city by the sword.
The ambushers charged, and fanned out toward Givoh. The ambushers sounded the signal, and struck down the entire city by the sword.
Rashi
וימשוך האורב. משך בשופר ; דבר אחר: משך בשופר העם אשר אתו, אל העיר:
The ambushers sounded the signal. The shofar blast. Another interpretation: With the shofar, they drew the people with them to the city.
וְהַמּוֹעֵד הָיָה לְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל עִם־הָאֹרֵב הֶרֶב לְהַעֲלוֹתָם מַשְׂאַת הֶעָשָׁן מִן־הָעִֽיר׃
A time frame was pre-arranged between the Yisroelite troops and the ambushers: when they would raise continuous clouds of smoke from the city.
A time frame was pre-arranged between the Yisroelite troops and the ambushers: when they would raise continuous clouds of smoke from the city.
Rashi
והמועד היה. מתחלה היה אות בין ישראל ובין האורב, להיות האורב מרבה להעלות עשן העיר, ויבינו ישראל אשר לכד האורב את הגבעה:
A time frame was pre-arranged At the outset, a signal was arranged between the Yisroelites and the ambushers, whereby the ambushers would raise continuous smoke from the city. The Yisroelites would thus understand that the ambushers had conquered Givoh.
משאת העשן. גובה העשן:
Clouds of smoke. High hanging smoke.
וַיַּהֲפֹךְ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּלְחָמָה וּבִנְיָמִן הֵחֵל לְהַכּוֹת חֲלָלִים בְּאִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּשְׁלֹשִׁים אִישׁ כִּי אָֽמְרוּ אַךְ נִגּוֹף נִגָּף הוּא לְפָנֵינוּ כַּמִּלְחָמָה הָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃
The Yisroelite troops retreated during the battle, and Binyomin began inflicting casualties among the Yisroelite troops, about thirty men, for they exclaimed, "They are crumbling before us, just as in the first battle."
The Yisroelite troops retreated during the battle, and Binyomin began inflicting casualties among the Yisroelite troops, about thirty men, for they exclaimed, "They are crumbling before us, just as in the first battle."
Rashi
ויהפך איש ישראל. עכשיו חוזר לתחלת הדברים ושונה ומפרש, עשרים וחמשה אלף שכתבנו למעלה (פסוק לה), כיצד נפלו והיכן נפלו:
The Yisroelite troops retreated. Scripture now returns to the beginning of the narrative, reviewing and explaining how the twenty five thousand mentioned above12V.35. fell, and where they fell.
וְהַמַּשְׂאֵת הֵחֵלָּה לַעֲלוֹת מִן־הָעִיר עַמּוּד עָשָׁן וַיִּפֶן בִּנְיָמִן אַחֲרָיו וְהִנֵּה עָלָה כְלִיל־הָעִיר הַשָּׁמָֽיְמָה׃
Then the cloud began to rise from the city—a column of smoke. Binyomin turned around, and the entire city had gone up heavenward.
Then the cloud began to rise from the city—a column of smoke. Binyomin turned around, and the entire city had gone up heavenward.
וְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָפַךְ וַיִּבָּהֵל אִישׁ בִּנְיָמִן כִּי רָאָה כִּֽי־נָגְעָה עָלָיו הָרָעָֽה׃
The Yisroelite troops reversed position. The Binyominite troops were appalled, as they realized that catastrophe was descending upon them.
The Yisroelite troops reversed position. The Binyominite troops were appalled, as they realized that catastrophe was descending upon them.
וַיִּפְנוּ לִפְנֵי אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר וְהַמִּלְחָמָה הִדְבִּיקָתְהוּ וַֽאֲשֶׁר מֵהֶעָרִים מַשְׁחִיתִים אוֹתוֹ בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃
They turned from the Yisroelite troops toward the desert route, but the battle engulfed them; while those in the city demolished it from within.
They turned from the Yisroelite troops toward the desert route, but the battle engulfed them; while those in the city demolished it from within.
Rashi
ואשר מהערים. האורב שנכנס בעיר, משחיתים אותו בתוך השבט, בתוך העיר:
While those in the city. The ambushers who had penetrated the city demolished the tribe from within the city.
כִּתְּרוּ אֶת־בִּנְיָמִן הִרְדִיפֻהוּ מְנוּחָה הִדְרִיכֻהוּ עַד נֹכַח הַגִּבְעָה מִמִּזְרַח־שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃
They enveloped [lit. crowned] Binyomin, called for their pursuit, and intercepted them at rest, up to the area facing Givoh to the east.
They enveloped [lit. crowned] Binyomin, called for their pursuit, and intercepted them at rest, up to the area facing Givoh to the east.
Rashi
כתרו את בנימן. הקיפו את בנימן ככתר המקיף את הראש, וכן (תהלים כב ג): אבירי בשן כתרוני, וכן (חבקוק א ד): כי רשע מכתיר את הצדיק, וכן גם בלשון עטרה נקראת הקפה (שמואל א כג כו): ושאול ואנשיו עוטרים אל דוד ואל אנשיו לתפשם:
They [lit. crowned] Binyomin. They encircled Binyomin the way a crown encircles the head. Similarly, "The mighty of Bashan encircled me,"13Tehilim, 22:13. and, "For the villain encircles the saint."14Chabakuk, 1:4. Also, the word "wreath" connotes encirclement, as in, "Shaul and his troops encircled [lit. wreathed] David and his troops in order to seize them"15Shmuel 1, 23:26.
הרדיפוהו. קוראים אחריו רדיפה, צועקים זה לזה לרדוף:
Called for their pursuit. They called for pursuit behind them—they shouted to each other to pursue.
מנוחה הדריכוהו. אצל הערים שהם נוחים בהם, שם הדביקוהו:
And intercepted them at rest. At the cities, where they generally rested, they intercepted them.
הדריכוהו. השיגוהו, ויש דוגמתו בלשון גמרא (כתובות ס ב): רהט בתריה פרסא בחלא ולא אדרכיה:
Intercepted them. Caught them. There is a similar term in the Talmud, "He pursued him a parsa in the sand, but did not catch him."16Kesubos, 60:b.
עד נוכח הגבעה. ממזרחה של גבעה:
Up to the area facing Givoh. East of Givoh.
וַֽיִּפְּלוּ מִבִּנְיָמִן שְׁמֹנָֽה־עָשָׂר אֶלֶף אִישׁ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵלֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־חָֽיִל׃
There fell, from Binyomin, eighteen thousand troops, all of them powerful warriors.
There fell, from Binyomin, eighteen thousand troops, all of them powerful warriors.
Rashi
ויפלו מבנימן שמונה עשר אלף. בשדה בתוך המלחמה:
There fell, from Binyomin, eighteen thousand troops In the field, in the thick of battle.
וַיִּפְנוּ וַיָּנֻסוּ הַמִּדְבָּרָה אֶל־סֶלַע הָרִמּוֹן וַיְעֹלְלֻהוּ בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת חֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ וַיַּדְבִּיקוּ אַֽחֲרָיו עַד־גִּדְעֹם וַיַּכּוּ מִמֶּנּוּ אַלְפַּיִם אִֽישׁ׃
They turned, and fled toward the wilderness, rock of Rimon, but they gleaned them along the way—five thousand troops. They intercepted their flanks until Gid'om, striking down, of them, two thousand troops.
They turned, and fled toward the wilderness, rock of Rimon, but they gleaned them along the way—five thousand troops. They intercepted their flanks until Gid'om, striking down, of them, two thousand troops.
Rashi
ויעוללהו. הריגה אחר הריגה, כעוללות שאחר הבציר:
They gleaned them. Killing constantly, like plucking gleanings after reaping.
חמשת אלפים איש. הרי עשרים ושלשה אלף:
Five thousand troops. Thus totaling twenty three thousand.
עד גדעום. שם מקום:
Until Gid'om. The name of a place.
ויכו ממנו אלפים איש. הרי עשרים וחמשה אלף האמור למעלה (פסוק לה), והמאה הכתובים למעלה (שם), לא פירש היכן נפלו:
Striking down, of them, two thousand troops. Thus totaling twenty-five thousand mentioned above.17V.35. The remaining one hundred recorded above18Ibid. fell at unnamed locations.
וַיְהִי כׇל־הַנֹּפְלִים מִבִּנְיָמִן עֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף אִישׁ שֹׁלֵֽף חֶרֶב בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת־כׇּל־אֵלֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־חָֽיִל׃
All those who fell from Binyomin totaled twenty-five thousand sabre wielding troops on that day. They were all powerful warriors.
All those who fell from Binyomin totaled twenty-five thousand sabre wielding troops on that day. They were all powerful warriors.
וַיִּפְנוּ וַיָּנֻסוּ הַמִּדְבָּרָה אֶל־סֶלַע הָרִמּוֹן שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ בְּסֶלַע רִמּוֹן אַרְבָּעָה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃
They turned and fled toward the wilderness, to the rock of Rimon six hundred troops. They remained at the rock of Rimon four months.
They turned and fled toward the wilderness, to the rock of Rimon six hundred troops. They remained at the rock of Rimon four months.
וְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁבוּ אֶל־בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן וַיַּכּוּם לְפִי־חֶרֶב מֵעִיר מְתֹם עַד־בְּהֵמָה עַד כׇּל־הַנִּמְצָא גַּם כׇּל־הֶעָרִים הַנִּמְצָאוֹת שִׁלְּחוּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃ {פ}
The Yisroelite troops turned to the Bnei Binyomin and struck them down by the sword, completely annihilating the cities, including the cattle and anything they came upon; also, all the cities they came upon they set ablaze.
The Yisroelite troops turned to the Bnei Binyomin and struck them down by the sword, completely annihilating the cities, including the cattle and anything they came upon; also, all the cities they came upon they set ablaze.
Rashi
שבו אל בני בנימן. בכל הערים:
Turned to the sons of Binyomin in all the cities.
מעיר מתם. התמו כל יושבי הערים:
Completely annihilating the cities. They annihilated all the inhabitants of the cities,
ועד בהמה. ואנשים בכלל 'מתום' היו, ש'מתום' לשון כליה הוא ויש לתמוה על אלף היכן הם, שהרי עשרים וששה אלף התפקדו מן הערים, ומן הגבעה שש מאות, וכאן מנה בנופלים עשרים וחמשה אלף ומאה איש, ושש מאות נמלטו אל סלע הרמון, והאלף ברחו אל הערים ונפלו למחרת כששבו בני ישראל אל ערי בנימין להחרים הנשים והטף:
Including the cattle—the people are included in "completely annihilating," since מְּתֹם denotes absolute annihilation. There is a problem with the location of one thousand, as twenty-six thousand were counted in the cities, and seven hundred at Givoh;19V.15. here, those who fell totaled twenty-five thousand, one hundred troops,20V. 46. and six hundred escaped to Rimon cliff.21V. 47. This totals 25,700, whereas the total in v. 15 was 26,700. Evidently, one thousand fled to the cities, and fell the following day when the Bnei Yisroel turned to the cities of Binyomin to annihilate the women and children.
ויתנו איש ישראל. אשר בשדה, מקום לבנימן לברוח אל הגבעה, כי סמכו ישראל על האורב שיצאו לקראתם:
The Yisroelite troops gave. Those in the field gave ground to Binyomin to escape to Givoh, since the Yisroelites depended on the ambushers to advance toward them.