Tanach
Shoftim 7 שופטים ז׳
Part of: Petuchah, Judges 7:1Petuchah, Judges 7:9Petuchah, Judges 7:15Petuchah, Judges 7:19Setumah, Judges 7:2Setumah, Judges 7:4Setumah, Judges 7:7
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יְרֻבַּעַל הוּא גִדְעוֹן וְכׇל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַֽיַּחֲנוּ עַל־עֵין חֲרֹד וּמַחֲנֵה מִדְיָן הָיָה־לוֹ מִצָּפוֹן מִגִּבְעַת הַמּוֹרֶה בָּעֵֽמֶק׃ {ס}
Yerubaal—Gidon, rose early, with all the people who accompanied him, and they camped at Ein Charod. The Midyonite camp was situated north of signal valley ridge.
Yerubaal—Gidon, rose early, with all the people who accompanied him, and they camped at Ein Charod. The Midyonite camp was situated north of signal valley ridge.
Rashi
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־גִּדְעוֹן רַב הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתָּךְ מִתִּתִּי אֶת־מִדְיָן בְּיָדָם פֶּן־יִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר יָדִי הוֹשִׁיעָה לִּֽי׃
Adonoy said to Gidon, "There are too many people with you for me to deliver the Midyonites into their hands, lest the Yisroelites glorify themselves above me by saying, 'My hand has brought me salvation."
Adonoy said to Gidon, "There are too many people with you for me to deliver the Midyonites into their hands, lest the Yisroelites glorify themselves above me by saying, 'My hand has brought me salvation."
Rashi
יתפאר. וונטי"ר בלע"ז:
Glorify. "Vanter" in old French.
וְעַתָּה קְרָא נָא בְּאׇזְנֵי הָעָם לֵאמֹר מִֽי־יָרֵא וְחָרֵד יָשֹׁב וְיִצְפֹּר מֵהַר הַגִּלְעָד וַיָּשׇׁב מִן־הָעָם עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁנַיִם אֶלֶף וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים נִשְׁאָֽרוּ׃ {ס}
Now, please announce in the ears of the people, saying: 'Anyone trembling with fear may return in the morning from Mount Gilod.'" Twenty two thousand of the people returned, ten thousand remained.
Now, please announce in the ears of the people, saying: 'Anyone trembling with fear may return in the morning from Mount Gilod.'" Twenty two thousand of the people returned, ten thousand remained.
Rashi
ויצפר. בבקר, לשון ארמי: צפרא:
In the morning. In the morning is צַפְדׇא in Aramaic.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־גִּדְעוֹן עוֹד הָעָם רָב הוֹרֵד אוֹתָם אֶל־הַמַּיִם וְאֶצְרְפֶנּוּ לְךָ שָׁם וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ זֶה ׀ יֵלֵךְ אִתָּךְ הוּא יֵלֵךְ אִתָּךְ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ זֶה לֹא־יֵלֵךְ עִמָּךְ הוּא לֹא יֵלֵֽךְ׃
Adonoy then said to Gidon, "There are still too many people. Lead them down to the water, where I shall purge them for you there. And it shall be; when I say to you this one goes with you, he will go with you. And when I say to you this one does not go with you, he will not go."
Adonoy then said to Gidon, "There are still too many people. Lead them down to the water, where I shall purge them for you there. And it shall be; when I say to you this one goes with you, he will go with you. And when I say to you this one does not go with you, he will not go."
וַיּוֹרֶד אֶת־הָעָם אֶל־הַמָּיִם וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־גִּדְעוֹן כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־יָלֹק בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ מִן־הַמַּיִם כַּאֲשֶׁר יָלֹק הַכֶּלֶב תַּצִּיג אוֹתוֹ לְבָד וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יִכְרַע עַל־בִּרְכָּיו לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃
He led the people down to the water. Adonoy said to Gidon, "Anyone who laps up the water with his tongue, the way dogs lap, set aside—anyone who bends forward while on his knees to drink [should also be set aside.]"
He led the people down to the water. Adonoy said to Gidon, "Anyone who laps up the water with his tongue, the way dogs lap, set aside—anyone who bends forward while on his knees to drink [should also be set aside.]"
Rashi
כל אשר ילוק בלשונו וגו' וכל אשר יכרע על ברכיו לשתות. תציג אותו לבד חוץ מסיעתך, כי הם לא ילכו עמך, שכך הם למודים לכרוע לפני עבודת גלולים:
Anyone who laps with his tongue, etc. Anyone who bends forward while on his knees to drink, set them aside, out of your retinue. They shall not accompany you, since they are practiced in kneeling before idols.3Both phrases of this passage—“Anyone who laps, etc.” and “anyone who bends forward, etc.”—refer to the same drinkers. Those who bend forward while on their knees, bringing their faces down to the water in order to lap it up, are practiced in prostrating themselves before idols.
וַיְהִי מִסְפַּר הַֽמְלַקְקִים בְּיָדָם אֶל־פִּיהֶם שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וְכֹל יֶתֶר הָעָם כָּרְעוּ עַל־בִּרְכֵיהֶם לִשְׁתּוֹת מָֽיִם׃ {ס}
The number of those who lapped from hand to mouth: were three hundred men. All the rest of the people bent forward while on their knees to drink water.
The number of those who lapped from hand to mouth: were three hundred men. All the rest of the people bent forward while on their knees to drink water.
Rashi
המלקקים בידם. אין זה דרך כריעה כלוקק בלשונו:
Who lapped from hand. This is not the kind of bending forward as when lapping up with the tongue.4Lapping from hand to mouth does not involve prostrating oneself.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־גִּדְעוֹן בִּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ הַֽמְלַקְקִים אוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם וְנָתַתִּי אֶת־מִדְיָן בְּיָדֶךָ וְכׇל־הָעָם יֵלְכוּ אִישׁ לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃
Adonoy said to Gidon, "With the three hundred man who lap up I will save you, and deliver Midyon into your hand. All the people may go, each of them to his place."
Adonoy said to Gidon, "With the three hundred man who lap up I will save you, and deliver Midyon into your hand. All the people may go, each of them to his place."
וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־צֵדָה הָעָם בְּיָדָם וְאֵת שׁוֹפְרֹֽתֵיהֶם וְאֵת כׇּל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל שִׁלַּח אִישׁ לְאֹֽהָלָיו וּבִשְׁלֹשׁ־מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ הֶחֱזִיק וּמַחֲנֵה מִדְיָן הָיָה לוֹ מִתַּחַת בָּעֵֽמֶק׃ {פ}
They took the people's provisions in hand, and their shofars. He sent all the rest of the men of Yisroel, each of them to his tent, and retained the three hundred men. The Midyonite camp was in the valley below.
They took the people's provisions in hand, and their shofars. He sent all the rest of the men of Yisroel, each of them to his tent, and retained the three hundred men. The Midyonite camp was in the valley below.
וַֽיְהִי בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יְהֹוָה קוּם רֵד בַּֽמַּחֲנֶה כִּי נְתַתִּיו בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃
It happened that night: Adonoy commanded him, "Rise up, and swoop down on the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.
It happened that night: Adonoy commanded him, "Rise up, and swoop down on the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.
וְאִם־יָרֵא אַתָּה לָרֶדֶת רֵד אַתָּה וּפֻרָה נַעַרְךָ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃
If you are too frightened to descend, go down alone with your page, Purah to the camp.
If you are too frightened to descend, go down alone with your page, Purah to the camp.
וְשָֽׁמַעְתָּ מַה־יְדַבֵּרוּ וְאַחַר תֶּחֱזַקְנָה יָדֶיךָ וְיָרַדְתָּ בַּֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיֵּרֶד הוּא וּפֻרָה נַעֲרוֹ אֶל־קְצֵה הַחֲמֻשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃
Listen to what they are saying, and afterward, be firm handed, and swoop down on the camp." He went down alone, with his page, Purah, to the periphery of the armed men at the camp.
Listen to what they are saying, and afterward, be firm handed, and swoop down on the camp." He went down alone, with his page, Purah, to the periphery of the armed men at the camp.
וּמִדְיָן וַעֲמָלֵק וְכׇל־בְּנֵי־קֶדֶם נֹפְלִים בָּעֵמֶק כָּאַרְבֶּה לָרֹב וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶם אֵין מִסְפָּר כַּחוֹל שֶׁעַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם לָרֹֽב׃
Midyon, Amoleik, and all the Eastern peoples lay in the valley, as thick as locusts. Their camels were innumerable, as abundant as sand at the sea beach.
Midyon, Amoleik, and all the Eastern peoples lay in the valley, as thick as locusts. Their camels were innumerable, as abundant as sand at the sea beach.
Rashi
נפלים בעמק. שוכנים בעמק:
Lay in the valley. Were stationed in the valley.
וַיָּבֹא גִדְעוֹן וְהִנֵּה־אִישׁ מְסַפֵּר לְרֵעֵהוּ חֲלוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה חֲלוֹם חָלַמְתִּי וְהִנֵּה צְלִיל לֶחֶם שְׂעֹרִים מִתְהַפֵּךְ בְּמַחֲנֵה מִדְיָן וַיָּבֹא עַד־הָאֹהֶל וַיַּכֵּהוּ וַיִּפֹּל וַיַּהַפְכֵהוּ לְמַעְלָה וְנָפַל הָאֹֽהֶל׃
Gidon came close, and behold a man was describing a dream to his friend. He said, "Look, I had a dream, and there was a toasted barley bread careening into the Midyonite camp; It reached a tent and hit it, and it collapsed. Then it overturned it, and the tent flattened."
Gidon came close, and behold a man was describing a dream to his friend. He said, "Look, I had a dream, and there was a toasted barley bread careening into the Midyonite camp; It reached a tent and hit it, and it collapsed. Then it overturned it, and the tent flattened."
Rashi
צליל. צלול כתיב, שהיה הדור צלול מן הצדיקים:
Toasted. The written text is צׇלוּל, "clear".5Occasionally, the written Scriptural text, כְתַב, differs from the the spoken text, קֽרִי. Rashi notes that this is the case here, where the written text is צׇלוּל, while the spoken text is צְלִיל, “toasted”. The generation was cleared of righteous men.
צליל לחם שערים. (תרגום:) חרר דלחם שעורים, חררה שאופין על הגחלים:
A toasted barley bread. A loaf of barley bread. A loaf toasted over coals.
לחם שערים. הוא זכות העומר הקרב בפסח:
Barley bread. This represents the merit of the Omer offering, which was brought on Pesach.6 On the second day of Pesach. The offering consisted of barley meal. (Vayikra, 23:11,16. See Rashi there. Cf. Rashi above, 6:19).
ויכהו ויפל. האהל: ויהפכהו. האהל מלמטה למעלה, ונפל האהל:
And hit it, and it collapsed (the tent), then it overturned the tent, completely overturned, and the tent collapsed.
וַיַּעַן רֵעֵהוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵין זֹאת בִּלְתִּי אִם־חֶרֶב גִּדְעוֹן בֶּן־יוֹאָשׁ אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל נָתַן הָאֱלֹהִים בְּיָדוֹ אֶת־מִדְיָן וְאֶת־כׇּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ {פ}
His friend replied, saying, "This can be nothing but the sword of Gidon ben Yoash, the man of Yisroel. Adonoy has delivered into his hand Midyon and the entire camp."
His friend replied, saying, "This can be nothing but the sword of Gidon ben Yoash, the man of Yisroel. Adonoy has delivered into his hand Midyon and the entire camp."
וַיְהִי כִשְׁמֹעַ גִּדְעוֹן אֶת־מִסְפַּר הַחֲלוֹם וְאֶת־שִׁבְרוֹ וַיִּשְׁתָּחוּ וַיָּשׇׁב אֶל־מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר קוּמוּ כִּֽי־נָתַן יְהֹוָה בְּיֶדְכֶם אֶת־מַחֲנֵה מִדְיָֽן׃
Now, when Gidon heard the recounting of the dream and its interpretation, he prostrated himself. He returned to the Yisroelite camp, and said, "Rise up, for Adonoy has delivered into your hands the Midyonite camp."
Now, when Gidon heard the recounting of the dream and its interpretation, he prostrated himself. He returned to the Yisroelite camp, and said, "Rise up, for Adonoy has delivered into your hands the Midyonite camp."
Rashi
את מספר החלום. את סיפור החלום, (תרגום:) ית שועית חלמא וית פשריה:
The recounting of the dream. The story of the dream.7 מִסְפַר, generally translated as “number”, is interpreted here as “story”. "The retelling of the dream and its interpretation."8This is Targum Yonasan’s translation.
ואת שברו. ואת ממכרו, כלומר: ואת פתרונו:
And its interpretation [lit. "its sale"]. The goods exchanged for it,9According to the literal interpretation, “sale”. or its interpretation.
וַיַּחַץ אֶת־שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ שְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים וַיִּתֵּן שׁוֹפָרוֹת בְּיַד־כֻּלָּם וְכַדִּים רֵיקִים וְלַפִּדִים בְּתוֹךְ הַכַּדִּֽים׃
He deployed the three hundred men into three divisions, and placed shofars in the hands of all of them. Also, empty pitchers, and torches in the pitchers.
He deployed the three hundred men into three divisions, and placed shofars in the hands of all of them. Also, empty pitchers, and torches in the pitchers.
Rashi
שופרות ולפדים. להזכיר זכות מתן תורה ופשוטו: לילה היה, כמו שכתוב (פסוק ט) והיה חשך, לפיכך נשאו שם לפידים להאיר להם ונתנום בכדים כדי שלא יבינו בלפידים:
Shofars and torches to invoke the merit of the giving of the Torah.10 At Mount Sinai, when the shofar sounded, and fire descended on the mountain. (Shemos, 19:16–19). According to the plain explanation: this took place at night, as it is written,11V. 9. and it was dark. They therefore carried torches to provide them with light. They placed them in pitchers so that the torches would remain undetected.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם מִמֶּנִּי תִרְאוּ וְכֵן תַּעֲשׂוּ וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בָא בִּקְצֵה הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וְהָיָה כַאֲשֶׁר־אֶעֱשֶׂה כֵּן תַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃
He told them, "Watch me, and follow suit. See, when I reach the periphery of the camp; then, do exactly as I do.
He told them, "Watch me, and follow suit. See, when I reach the periphery of the camp; then, do exactly as I do.
Rashi
ממני תראו. את אשר אני עושה, ראו ועשו כן:
Watch me. Watch my actions, and follow suit.
וְתָֽקַעְתִּי בַּשּׁוֹפָר אָנֹכִי וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר אִתִּי וּתְקַעְתֶּם בַּשּׁוֹפָרוֹת גַּם־אַתֶּם סְבִיבוֹת כׇּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַאֲמַרְתֶּם לַיהֹוָה וּלְגִדְעֽוֹן׃ {פ}
When I sound the shofar blast—I, and everyone with me—you sound the shofars as well, around the entire perimeter of the camp, and shout, 'For Adonoy, and for Gidon!"
When I sound the shofar blast—I, and everyone with me—you sound the shofars as well, around the entire perimeter of the camp, and shout, 'For Adonoy, and for Gidon!"
Rashi
אנכי וכל אשר אתי. אחד מן הראשים, ומאה איש היה עמו (פסוק יט):
I, and everyone with me. One of the divisions and one hundred men accompanied him.
לה' ולגדעון. (תרגום:) חרבא דמקטלא מן קדם ה' ונצחנא על ידי גדעון:
For Adonoy, and for Gidon. The sword that executes is from Adonoy, so that victory is Gidon's.12This is Targum Yonasan’s interpretation, following v. 20, “Adonoy’s sword, and for Gidon!”
וַיָּבֹא גִדְעוֹן וּמֵאָה־אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ בִּקְצֵה הַֽמַּחֲנֶה רֹאשׁ הָאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַתִּיכוֹנָה אַךְ הָקֵם הֵקִימוּ אֶת־הַשֹּׁמְרִים וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ בַּשּׁוֹפָרוֹת וְנָפוֹץ הַכַּדִּים אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדָֽם׃
Gidon and the hundred men with him reached the periphery of the camp at the beginning of the middle guard, when they had just posted the sentries. They sounded the shofar blasts, and smashed the pitchers in their hands.
Gidon and the hundred men with him reached the periphery of the camp at the beginning of the middle guard, when they had just posted the sentries. They sounded the shofar blasts, and smashed the pitchers in their hands.
Rashi
הקם הקימו. כבר בני החיל את השומרים שהיתה משמרתם באשמורת התיכונה, שכן דרך בני גייסות להעמיד שומרים, אלו ישמרו שליש הלילה הראשון ואלו שליש השני, ואלו שליש האחרון:
Had posted. The soldiers had already posted the sentries who were assigned to the middle watch. Members of the military usually assign sentry duty so that some serve during the first third of the night, some during the second third, and some during the final third.13See Yalkut, 63.
ונפוץ הכדים. ולשבור הכדים אשר בידם:
And smashed the pitchers. And broke14 נׇפוֹץ is sometimes translated as “dispersed”. Here, however, the translation is שָבוֹר, “broke”, as stated clearly in v.20. the pitchers which were in their hands.
וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת הָרָאשִׁים בַּשּׁוֹפָרוֹת וַיִּשְׁבְּרוּ הַכַּדִּים וַיַּחֲזִיקוּ בְיַד־שְׂמֹאולָם בַּלַּפִּדִים וּבְיַד־יְמִינָם הַשּׁוֹפָרוֹת לִתְקוֹעַ וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ חֶרֶב לַיהֹוָה וּלְגִדְעֽוֹן׃
The three divisions sounded the shofar blasts and smashed the pitchers. They grasped the torches with their left hands, and the shofars with their right hands to sound the shofar blasts, and they cried, "The sword for Adonoy and for Gidon!."
The three divisions sounded the shofar blasts and smashed the pitchers. They grasped the torches with their left hands, and the shofars with their right hands to sound the shofar blasts, and they cried, "The sword for Adonoy and for Gidon!."
וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ אִישׁ תַּחְתָּיו סָבִיב לַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיָּרׇץ כׇּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיָּרִיעוּ (ויניסו) [וַיָּנֽוּסוּ]׃
Each of them stood his ground around the perimiter of the camp. The entire camp was put to rout—they sounded the alarm, and fled.
Each of them stood his ground around the perimiter of the camp. The entire camp was put to rout—they sounded the alarm, and fled.
Rashi
ויריעו. תרועת מסע וניסה:
They sounded the alarm. The signal to withdraw and flee.
וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵאוֹת הַשּׁוֹפָרוֹת וַיָּשֶׂם יְהֹוָה אֵת חֶרֶב אִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ וּבְכׇל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיָּנׇס הַֽמַּחֲנֶה עַד־בֵּית הַשִּׁטָּה צְֽרֵרָתָה עַד שְׂפַת־אָבֵל מְחוֹלָה עַל־טַבָּֽת׃
They sounded three hundred shofar blasts. Adonoy impaled them on each other's swords throughout the camp. The camp fled to Beis Hashitah, at Tsereiras, until the periphery of Avel Mecholah, adjoining Tabas.
They sounded three hundred shofar blasts. Adonoy impaled them on each other's swords throughout the camp. The camp fled to Beis Hashitah, at Tsereiras, until the periphery of Avel Mecholah, adjoining Tabas.
וַיִּצָּעֵק אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִנַּפְתָּלִי וּמִן־אָשֵׁר וּמִן־כׇּל־מְנַשֶּׁה וַֽיִּרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵי מִדְיָֽן׃
The Yisroelites mobilized from Naftoli, Osher, and all of Menasheh, and pursued Midyon.
The Yisroelites mobilized from Naftoli, Osher, and all of Menasheh, and pursued Midyon.
וּמַלְאָכִים שָׁלַח גִּדְעוֹן בְּכׇל־הַר אֶפְרַיִם לֵאמֹר רְדוּ לִקְרַאת מִדְיָן וְלִכְדוּ לָהֶם אֶת־הַמַּיִם עַד בֵּית בָּרָה וְאֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן וַיִּצָּעֵק כׇּל־אִישׁ אֶפְרַיִם וַיִּלְכְּדוּ אֶת־הַמַּיִם עַד בֵּית בָּרָה וְאֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
Gidon dispatched couriers throughout Mount Ephraim, saying: "Descend toward Midyon, and capture the waters against them until Beis Barah, and the Yardein." And all the men of Ephraim gathered together and captured the waters until Beis Barah, and the Yardein.
Gidon dispatched couriers throughout Mount Ephraim, saying: "Descend toward Midyon, and capture the waters against them until Beis Barah, and the Yardein." And all the men of Ephraim gathered together and captured the waters until Beis Barah, and the Yardein.
Rashi
ולכדו להם את המים. המפסיקין בין ארם לארץ כנען:
Capture the waters which intervene between Aram and Canaanite territory.
ואת הירדן. שגם הוא היה מפסיק:
And the Yardein which also intervened.
וַֽיִּלְכְּדוּ שְׁנֵֽי־שָׂרֵי מִדְיָן אֶת־עֹרֵב וְאֶת־זְאֵב וַיַּהַרְגוּ אֶת־עוֹרֵב בְּצוּר־עוֹרֵב וְאֶת־זְאֵב הָרְגוּ בְיֶֽקֶב־זְאֵב וַֽיִּרְדְּפוּ אֶל־מִדְיָן וְרֹאשׁ־עֹרֵב וּזְאֵב הֵבִיאוּ אֶל־גִּדְעוֹן מֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
They captured two Midyonite warlords, Orev and Z'ev. They executed Orev at Tzur Orev, and executed Z'ev at Yekev Z'ev. The pursuit reached Midyon. They brought the skulls of Orev and Z'ev to Gidon, across the Yardein.
They captured two Midyonite warlords, Orev and Z'ev. They executed Orev at Tzur Orev, and executed Z'ev at Yekev Z'ev. The pursuit reached Midyon. They brought the skulls of Orev and Z'ev to Gidon, across the Yardein.
Rashi
הביאו אל גדעון מעבר לירדן. בבקר, כשעבר גדעון את הירדן לרדוף אחר זבח וצלמונע:
They brought to Gidon, across the Yardein. In the morning, when Gidon crossed the Yardein pursuing Zevach and Tzalmona.15
מגבעת המורה בעמק. (תרגום:) דמסתכיא למישרא. המורה, לשון הוראה וראיה, כמו (משלי ו יג) מורה באצבעותיו, שמשם צופים ורומזים בעמק:
Of signal valley ridge. Overlooking the plain1This is Targum Yonasan’s interpretation. The ridge overlooked the plain, and was thus suitable as an observation post.. הַמּוֹרֶה connotes instruction, observation, as in "instructs by gesturing."2Mishlei, 6:13. From there they would observe, and then signal instructions to the valley.