Tanach
Shoftim 6:1-6 שופטים ו׳:א׳-ו׳
Part of: Chapter 6
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה וַיִּתְּנֵם יְהֹוָה בְּיַד־מִדְיָן שֶׁבַע שָׁנִֽים׃
The Bnei Yisroel acted wickedly in Adonoy's eyes. Adonoy delivered them into the hands of Midyon for seven years.
The Bnei Yisroel acted wickedly in Adonoy's eyes. Adonoy delivered them into the hands of Midyon for seven years.
Rashi
וַתָּעׇז יַד־מִדְיָן עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי מִדְיָן עָשׂוּ לָהֶם ׀ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הַמִּנְהָרוֹת אֲשֶׁר בֶּהָרִים וְאֶת־הַמְּעָרוֹת וְאֶת־הַמְּצָדֽוֹת׃
The hand of Midyon overpowered Yisroel. Because of Midyon, the Bnei Yisroel made themselves mountain retreats, caves and stockades.
The hand of Midyon overpowered Yisroel. Because of Midyon, the Bnei Yisroel made themselves mountain retreats, caves and stockades.
Rashi
המנהרות. (תרגום:) מטמוריתא, ובלשון לע"ז: וודו"ש, ועל שם שעושין בהם מאור קטן במקום שאין ניכר קוראן מנהרות, לויישיט"ש בלע"ז:
Retreats. Hidden places.3This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. In old French, "voutes". Because a slight bit of illumination is positioned in them in some inconspicuous spot, they are referred to as מִנְהׇרוֹת, lit. "glimmerings", "lucerno" in old French.
מערות. גרוטי"ה בלע"ז:
Caves. "Grotte" in old French
מצדות. פליישדי"ץ בלע"ז, על שם שעושים ביערים על ידי הפלת האילנות סביב סביב:
Stockades. "Palliser" in old French, "pales", as it is constructed in the forest by felling trees around its perimeter.4The trees serve as the pales or stakes forming the stockade.
וְהָיָה אִם־זָרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעָלָה מִדְיָן וַעֲמָלֵק וּבְנֵי־קֶדֶם וְעָלוּ עָלָֽיו׃
It happened that when the Yisroelites planted the Midyonites moved up with the Amoleikites and eastern peoples; They moved up against them.
It happened that when the Yisroelites planted the Midyonites moved up with the Amoleikites and eastern peoples; They moved up against them.
וַיַּֽחֲנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ אֶת־יְבוּל הָאָרֶץ עַד־בּוֹאֲךָ עַזָּה וְלֹֽא־יַשְׁאִירוּ מִֽחְיָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְשֶׂה וָשׁוֹר וַחֲמֽוֹר׃
They encamped against them, and ruined the earth's produce until you reach Aza. They left no source of livelihood in Yisroel, not a sheep, ox or donkey.
They encamped against them, and ruined the earth's produce until you reach Aza. They left no source of livelihood in Yisroel, not a sheep, ox or donkey.
כִּי הֵם וּמִקְנֵיהֶם יַֽעֲלוּ וְאׇהֳלֵיהֶם (יבאו) [וּבָאוּ] כְדֵֽי־אַרְבֶּה לָרֹב וְלָהֶם וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶם אֵין מִסְפָּר וַיָּבֹאוּ בָאָרֶץ לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ׃
For they moved up with their cattle and tents, they came as thick as locusts; they and their camels were innumerable, and they came to the land to ruin it.
For they moved up with their cattle and tents, they came as thick as locusts; they and their camels were innumerable, and they came to the land to ruin it.
Rashi
הם ומקניהם. לרעות את התבואה:
With their cattle to graze on the produce.
וַיִּדַּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְאֹד מִפְּנֵי מִדְיָן וַיִּזְעֲקוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
The Yisroelites were extremely impoverished because of Midyon. The Bnei Yisroel cried out to Adonoy.
The Yisroelites were extremely impoverished because of Midyon. The Bnei Yisroel cried out to Adonoy.
ויעשו הרע. עד כאן נאמר 'ויוסיפו', שהיה נצבר חטא על חטא, אבל בשירה זו נמחל להם כל אשר עשו, ועכשיו מתחילין לחטוא, כך נדרש באגדת תהלים (מדרש תהלים יח ו):
Acted wickedly. Until this period, Scripture states, "They resumed [acting wickedly]" since their iniquities accumulated. However, through this hymn1Sung by Devorah and Barak [ch.5]. they were granted forgiveness for all that they had perpetrated.2Anyone rescued miraculously who then sings a hymn of praise forgiven all his sins, as if he had been newly created. (Yalkut, 60) But now they began sinning anew. This interpretation is in Agadas Tehilim.