Tanach
Shoftim 8:22-28 שופטים ח׳:כ״ב-כ״ח
Part of: Chapter 8
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־גִּדְעוֹן מְשָׁל־בָּנוּ גַּם־אַתָּה גַּם־בִּנְךָ גַּם בֶּן־בְּנֶךָ כִּי הוֹשַׁעְתָּנוּ מִיַּד מִדְיָֽן׃
The Yisroelite constituency said to Gidon, "Govern us! You, your children, and your children's children, for you rescued us from the hand of Midyon."
The Yisroelite constituency said to Gidon, "Govern us! You, your children, and your children's children, for you rescued us from the hand of Midyon."
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם גִּדְעוֹן לֹֽא־אֶמְשֹׁל אֲנִי בָּכֶם וְלֹא־יִמְשֹׁל בְּנִי בָּכֶם יְהֹוָה יִמְשֹׁל בָּכֶֽם׃
Gidon replied to them, "I shall not govern you, nor shall my children govern you. Let Adonoy govern you!"
Gidon replied to them, "I shall not govern you, nor shall my children govern you. Let Adonoy govern you!"
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם גִּדְעוֹן אֶשְׁאֲלָה מִכֶּם שְׁאֵלָה וּתְנוּ־לִי אִישׁ נֶזֶם שְׁלָלוֹ כִּֽי־נִזְמֵי זָהָב לָהֶם כִּי יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים הֵֽם׃
Gidon said to them, "I have a request to make of you. Give me, everyone, a nose ring from his pillage." They had golden nose rings, since they were Ishmaelites.
Gidon said to them, "I have a request to make of you. Give me, everyone, a nose ring from his pillage." They had golden nose rings, since they were Ishmaelites.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ נָתוֹן נִתֵּן וַֽיִּפְרְשׂוּ אֶת־הַשִּׂמְלָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ שָׁמָּה אִישׁ נֶזֶם שְׁלָלֽוֹ׃
They replied, "We will surely give." They spread a cloth, and everyone cast, into it, a nose ring from his pillage.
They replied, "We will surely give." They spread a cloth, and everyone cast, into it, a nose ring from his pillage.
וַיְהִי מִשְׁקַל נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר שָׁאָל אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע־מֵאוֹת זָהָב לְבַד מִן־הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִים וְהַנְּטִיפוֹת וּבִגְדֵי הָאַרְגָּמָן שֶׁעַל מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן וּלְבַד מִן־הָעֲנָקוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּצַוְּארֵי גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם׃
The sum of the weight of the golden nose rings he had requested was one thousand seven hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescent chains, crowns, and purple robes worn by the Midyonite monarchs; and besides the chains adorning the necks of their camels.
The sum of the weight of the golden nose rings he had requested was one thousand seven hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescent chains, crowns, and purple robes worn by the Midyonite monarchs; and besides the chains adorning the necks of their camels.
Rashi
וַיַּעַשׂ אוֹתוֹ גִדְעוֹן לְאֵפוֹד וַיַּצֵּג אוֹתוֹ בְעִירוֹ בְּעׇפְרָה וַיִּזְנוּ כׇֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרָיו שָׁם וַיְהִי לְגִדְעוֹן וּלְבֵיתוֹ לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃
Gidon fashioned this into an apron, and exhibited it in his city, Ophrah. All of Yisroel were perverted towards it there. It became a pitfall, for Gidon and his household.
Gidon fashioned this into an apron, and exhibited it in his city, Ophrah. All of Yisroel were perverted towards it there. It became a pitfall, for Gidon and his household.
Rashi
ויעש אותו גדעון לאפוד. להיות לזכרון על תשועה גדולה, לראות כמה היה חילם כבד שבנזמי חשוביהם היה כל הזהב הזה:
Gidon fashioned it into an apron as a memorial to the the great salvation, demonstrating how enormous their forces were, as the nose rings of their eminent men contained so much gold.
ויזנו כל ישראל אחריו. לאחר מיתת גדעון:
All of Yisroel were perverted towards it after Gidon's demise.5But not during his lifetime. Gidon’s intentions were pure. (See Yalkut, 64.)
וַיִּכָּנַע מִדְיָן לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא יָסְפוּ לָשֵׂאת רֹאשָׁם וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בִּימֵי גִדְעֽוֹן׃ {פ}
The Midyonites were subjugated to Yisroel, and no longer held their heads high. The land was tranquil forty years, throughout the days of Gidon.
The Midyonites were subjugated to Yisroel, and no longer held their heads high. The land was tranquil forty years, throughout the days of Gidon.
השהרנים והנטפות. (תרגום:) ענקיא וכלילא:
The crescent chains and crowns. The neckbands and crowns.4This is Targum Yonasan’s rendition.