Tanach
Shoftim 7:19-8:9 שופטים ז׳:י״ט-ח׳:ט׳
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
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
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
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו אִישׁ אֶפְרַיִם מָֽה־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ לְבִלְתִּי קְרֹאות לָנוּ כִּי הָלַכְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵם בְּמִדְיָן וַיְרִיבוּן אִתּוֹ בְּחׇזְקָֽה׃
The men of Ephraim said to him, "What have you done to us, not calling on us when you went to war with Midyon?" They argued with him vehemently.
The men of Ephraim said to him, "What have you done to us, not calling on us when you went to war with Midyon?" They argued with him vehemently.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם מֶה־עָשִׂיתִי עַתָּה כָּכֶם הֲלֹא טוֹב עֹלְלוֹת אֶפְרַיִם מִבְצִיר אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר׃
He replied to them, "Can any action of mine compare with yours? Do not Ephraim's underripened gleanings surpass Aviezer's harvest?
He replied to them, "Can any action of mine compare with yours? Do not Ephraim's underripened gleanings surpass Aviezer's harvest?
Rashi
מה עשיתי עתה ככם. מה חשוב מה שעשיתי בתחילתו, כמה שעשיתם אתם בסוף:
Can any action of mine compare with yours? How significant were my actions at the beginning in comparison with yours at the end?
הלא טוב עללות. שבאו לידכם בסוף מתחלת הבציר שבצרנו אני ומשפחתי, שהרי בידכם נתן ה' את המלכים:
Do not Ephraim's underripened gleanings surpass. The gleanings1 עוֹלְלוֹת are underripened grapes which may not be harvested, but must be left to be gleaned afterward by the poor. (Vayikra, 19:10) Gidon compared his original battle with the Midyonites to the harvest, and the ensuing execution of Orev and Z’ev to the gleaning of the עוֹלְלוֹת. which you acquired at the end surpass the early harvest which my family and I gathered, for Adonoy delivered the kings into your hands.
בְּיֶדְכֶם נָתַן אֱלֹהִים אֶת־שָׂרֵי מִדְיָן אֶת־עֹרֵב וְאֶת־זְאֵב וּמַה־יָּכֹלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת כָּכֶם אָז רָפְתָה רוּחָם מֵֽעָלָיו בְּדַבְּרוֹ הַדָּבָר הַזֶּֽה׃
Into your hands Adonoy delivered the Midyonite warlords, Orev and Z'ev, so what could I have done to compare with you?" Their fury towards him was then assuaged, by this rebuttal.
Into your hands Adonoy delivered the Midyonite warlords, Orev and Z'ev, so what could I have done to compare with you?" Their fury towards him was then assuaged, by this rebuttal.
Rashi
ומה יכלתי. לעשות שיהא חשוב כמעשה שלכם:
What could I have done that would have been as significant as your accomplishments?
וַיָּבֹא גִדְעוֹן הַיַּרְדֵּנָה עֹבֵר הוּא וּשְׁלֹשׁ־מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ עֲיֵפִים וְרֹדְפִֽים׃
Gidon reached the Yardein. He crossed, with the three hundred men accompanying him, exhausted in pursuit.
Gidon reached the Yardein. He crossed, with the three hundred men accompanying him, exhausted in pursuit.
Rashi
עבר הוא ושלש מאות האיש. עוברים את הירדן אחרי זבח וצלמונע שעברו את הירדן תחלה, והיו משחיתים מעבר לירדן את ארץ ראובן וגד ומנשה, ועבר שם כדי לנקום אף בהם:
He crossed with the three hundred men. They crossed the Yardein after Zevach and Tzalmuna, who had crossed previously and wreaked destruction across the Yardein, in the territory of Reuven, Gad, and Menashe. He crossed to take revenge against them as well.
וַיֹּאמֶר לְאַנְשֵׁי סֻכּוֹת תְּנוּ־נָא כִּכְּרוֹת לֶחֶם לָעָם אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלָי כִּֽי־עֲיֵפִים הֵם וְאָנֹכִי רֹדֵף אַחֲרֵי זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע מַלְכֵי מִדְיָֽן׃
He said to the people of Succos, "Please give some loaves of bread to the people at my heels, as they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zevach and Tzalmuna, the Midyonite kings."
He said to the people of Succos, "Please give some loaves of bread to the people at my heels, as they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zevach and Tzalmuna, the Midyonite kings."
Rashi
לאנשי סכות. ישראל היו:
To the people of Succos. They were Yisroelites.
וַיֹּאמֶר שָׂרֵי סֻכּוֹת הֲכַף זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע עַתָּה בְּיָדֶךָ כִּֽי־נִתֵּן לִֽצְבָאֲךָ לָֽחֶם׃
The leaders of Succos said, "Are the palms of Zevach and of Tzalmuna presently in your hands, that we must give your forces bread?"
The leaders of Succos said, "Are the palms of Zevach and of Tzalmuna presently in your hands, that we must give your forces bread?"
Rashi
הכף זבח וצלמנע בידך. שאתה מתפאר שהצלתנו מיד מדין:
Are the palms of Zevach and Tzalmuna in your hands that you pride yourself in having rescued us from the hand of Midyon.
וַיֹּאמֶר גִּדְעוֹן לָכֵן בְּתֵת יְהֹוָה אֶת־זֶבַח וְאֶת־צַלְמֻנָּע בְּיָדִי וְדַשְׁתִּי אֶת־בְּשַׂרְכֶם אֶת־קוֹצֵי הַמִּדְבָּר וְאֶת־הַֽבַּרְקֳנִֽים׃
Gidon retorted, "For this, when Adonoy delivers Zevach and Tzalmuna into my hand, I shall pummel your flesh with cactus spines and thorns."
Gidon retorted, "For this, when Adonoy delivers Zevach and Tzalmuna into my hand, I shall pummel your flesh with cactus spines and thorns."
Rashi
הברקנים. רונצי"ש בלע"ז:
Thorns. "Ronzes" in old French.
וַיַּעַל מִשָּׁם פְּנוּאֵל וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם כָּזֹאת וַיַּעֲנוּ אוֹתוֹ אַנְשֵׁי פְנוּאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר עָנוּ אַנְשֵׁי סֻכּֽוֹת׃
He ascended from there to Penueil, and made a similar appeal to them; the people of Penueil responded as the people of Succos had responded.
He ascended from there to Penueil, and made a similar appeal to them; the people of Penueil responded as the people of Succos had responded.
וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־לְאַנְשֵׁי פְנוּאֵל לֵאמֹר בְּשׁוּבִי בְשָׁלוֹם אֶתֹּץ אֶת־הַמִּגְדָּל הַזֶּֽה׃ {פ}
He replied to the people of Penueil as well, saying, "Upon my peaceful return, I shall demolish this tower."
He replied to the people of Penueil as well, saying, "Upon my peaceful return, I shall demolish this tower."
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.