1And the men of Efrayim said unto him, “Why have you served us so, that you did not call us when you went to fight with Midyan?” And they did chide with him sharply. 2And he said unto them, “What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of Efrayim better than the vintage of Avi’ezer? 3Elohim has delivered into your hand the princes of Midyan, Orev and Ze’ev; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. 4And Gidon came to the Yarden, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing. 5And he said unto the men of Sukkot, “Give, I pray, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zevakh and Tzalmuna, the kings of Midyan.” 6And the princes of Sukkot said, “Are the hands of Zevakh and Tzalmuna now in your power, that we should give bread unto your army?” 7And Gidon said, “Therefore when יהוה has delivered Zevakh and Tzalmuna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8And he went up there to Penu’El, and spoke unto them in like manner; and the men of Penu’El answered him as the men of Sukkot had answered. 9And he spoke also unto the men of Penu’El, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will break down this tower.”
10Now Zevakh and Tzalmuna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the host of the children of the east; for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. 11And Gidon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Novakh and Yogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure. 12And Zevakh and Tzalmuna fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Midyan, Zevakh and Tzalmuna, and discomfited all the host. 13And Gidon Ben Yo’ash returned from the battle from the ascent of HeKharas. 14And he caught a young man of the men of Sukkot, and inquired of him; and he wrote down for him the princes of Sukkot, and the elders thereof, seventy and seven men.
15And he came unto the men of Sukkot, and said, “Behold Zevakh and Tzalmuna, concerning whom you did taunt me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zevakh and Tzalmuna now in your power, that we should give bread unto your men that are weary’?” 16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Sukkot. 17And he broke down the tower of Penu’El, and slew the men of the city. 18Then said he unto Zevakh and Tzalmuna, “Where are the men whom you slew at Tabor?” And they answered, “As you are, so were they; of one form with the children of a king.” 19And he said, “They were my brethren, the sons of my mother; as יהוה lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you.” 20And he said unto Yeter his first-born, “Up, and slay them.” But the youth drew not his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21Then Zevakh and Tzalmuna said, “Rise, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gidon arose, and slew Zevakh and Tzalmuna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.
22Then the men of Yisra’el said unto Gidon, “Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midyan.” 23And Gidon said unto them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you; יהוה shall rule over you.” 24And Gidon said unto them, “I would make a request of you, that you would give me every man the ear-rings of his spoil.” For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the ear-rings of his spoil. 26And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midyan, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. 27And Gidon made an efod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ofrah; and all Yisra’el went astray after it there; and it became a snare unto Gidon, and to his house. 28So Midyan was subdued before the B’nei Yisra’el, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gidon.
29And Yeruba’al Ben Yo’ash went and dwelt in his own house. 30And Gidon had seventy sons of his body begotten; for he had many wives. 31And his concubine that was in Shekhem, she also bore him a son, and he called his name Avimelekh. 32And Gidon Ben Yo’ash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Yo’ash his father, in Ofrah of the Avi’ezri.
33And it came to pass, as soon as Gidon was dead, that B’nei Yisra’el again went astray after the Ba’alim, and made Ba’al B’rit their god. 34And B’nei Yisra’el remembered not יהוה their Elohim, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side; 35neither showed they kindness to the house of Yeruba’al, namely Gidon, according to all the goodness which he had shown unto Yisra’el.
אוַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו אִישׁ אֶפְרַיִם מָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ לְבִלְתִּי קְרֹאות לָנוּ כִּי הָלַכְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵם בְּמִדְיָן; וַיְרִיבוּן אִתּוֹ בְּחָזְקָה. בוַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם מֶה עָשִׂיתִי עַתָּה כָּכֶם: הֲלֹא טוֹב עֹלְלוֹת אֶפְרַיִם מִבְצִיר אֲבִיעֶזֶר. גבְּיֶדְכֶם נָתַן אֱלֹהִים אֶת שָׂרֵי מִדְיָן אֶת עֹרֵב וְאֶת זְאֵב וּמַה יָּכֹלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת כָּכֶם; אָז רָפְתָה רוּחָם מֵעָלָיו בְּדַבְּרוֹ הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה. דוַיָּבֹא גִדְעוֹן הַיַּרְדֵּנָה; עֹבֵר הוּא וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ עֲיֵפִים וְרֹדְפִים. הוַיֹּאמֶר לְאַנְשֵׁי סֻכּוֹת תְּנוּ נָא כִּכְּרוֹת לֶחֶם לָעָם אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלָי: כִּי עֲיֵפִים הֵם וְאָנֹכִי רֹדֵף אַחֲרֵי זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן. ווַיֹּאמֶר שָׂרֵי סֻכּוֹת הֲכַף זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע עַתָּה בְּיָדֶךָ: כִּי נִתֵּן לִצְבָאֲךָ לָחֶם. זוַיֹּאמֶר גִּדְעוֹן לָכֵן בְּתֵת יהוה אֶת זֶבַח וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּע בְּיָדִי: וְדַשְׁתִּי אֶת בְּשַׂרְכֶם אֶת קוֹצֵי הַמִּדְבָּר וְאֶת הַבַּרְקֳנִים. חוַיַּעַל מִשָּׁם פְּנוּאֵל וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם כָּזֹאת; וַיַּעֲנוּ אוֹתוֹ אַנְשֵׁי פְנוּאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר עָנוּ אַנְשֵׁי סֻכּוֹת. טוַיֹּאמֶר גַּם לְאַנְשֵׁי פְנוּאֵל לֵאמֹר: בְּשׁוּבִי בְשָׁלוֹם אֶתֹּץ אֶת הַמִּגְדָּל הַזֶּה.
יוְזֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע בַּקַּרְקֹר וּמַחֲנֵיהֶם עִמָּם כַּחֲמֵשֶׁת עָשָׂר אֶלֶף כֹּל הַנּוֹתָרִים מִכֹּל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי קֶדֶם; וְהַנֹּפְלִים מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף אִישׁ שֹׁלֵף חָרֶב. יאוַיַּעַל גִּדְעוֹן דֶּרֶךְ הַשְּׁכוּנֵי בָאֳהָלִים מִקֶּדֶם לְנֹבַח וְיָגְבְּהָה; וַיַּךְ אֶת הַמַּחֲנֶה וְהַמַּחֲנֶה הָיָה בֶטַח. יבוַיָּנֻסוּ זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם; וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת שְׁנֵי מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן אֶת זֶבַח וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּע וְכָל הַמַּחֲנֶה הֶחֱרִיד. יגוַיָּשָׁב גִּדְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹאָשׁ מִן הַמִּלְחָמָה מִלְמַעֲלֵה הֶחָרֶס. ידוַיִּלְכָּד נַעַר מֵאַנְשֵׁי סֻכּוֹת וַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּ; וַיִּכְתֹּב אֵלָיו אֶת שָׂרֵי סֻכּוֹת וְאֶת זְקֵנֶיהָ שִׁבְעִים וְשִׁבְעָה אִישׁ.
טווַיָּבֹא אֶל אַנְשֵׁי סֻכּוֹת וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע: אֲשֶׁר חֵרַפְתֶּם אוֹתִי לֵאמֹר הֲכַף זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע עַתָּה בְּיָדֶךָ כִּי נִתֵּן לַאֲנָשֶׁיךָ הַיְּעֵפִים לָחֶם. טזוַיִּקַּח אֶת זִקְנֵי הָעִיר וְאֶת קוֹצֵי הַמִּדְבָּר וְאֶת הַבַּרְקֳנִים; וַיֹּדַע בָּהֶם אֵת אַנְשֵׁי סֻכּוֹת. יזוְאֶת מִגְדַּל פְּנוּאֵל נָתָץ; וַיַּהֲרֹג אֶת אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר. יחוַיֹּאמֶר אֶל זֶבַח וְאֶל צַלְמֻנָּע אֵיפֹה הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר הֲרַגְתֶּם בְּתָבוֹר; וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּמוֹךָ כְמוֹהֶם אֶחָד כְּתֹאַר בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. יטוַיֹּאמַר אַחַי בְּנֵי אִמִּי הֵם; חַי יהוה לוּ הַחֲיִתֶם אוֹתָם לֹא הָרַגְתִּי אֶתְכֶם. כוַיֹּאמֶר לְיֶתֶר בְּכוֹרוֹ קוּם הֲרֹג אוֹתָם; וְלֹא שָׁלַף הַנַּעַר חַרְבּוֹ כִּי יָרֵא כִּי עוֹדֶנּוּ נָעַר. כאוַיֹּאמֶר זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע קוּם אַתָּה וּפְגַע בָּנוּ כִּי כָאִישׁ גְּבוּרָתוֹ; וַיָּקָם גִּדְעוֹן וַיַּהֲרֹג אֶת זֶבַח וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּע וַיִּקַּח אֶת הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִים אֲשֶׁר בְּצַוְּארֵי גְמַלֵּיהֶם.
כבוַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל גִּדְעוֹן מְשָׁל בָּנוּ גַּם אַתָּה גַּם בִּנְךָ גַּם בֶּן בְּנֶךָ: כִּי הוֹשַׁעְתָּנוּ מִיַּד מִדְיָן. כגוַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם גִּדְעוֹן לֹא אֶמְשֹׁל אֲנִי בָּכֶם וְלֹא יִמְשֹׁל בְּנִי בָּכֶם: יהוה יִמְשֹׁל בָּכֶם. כדוַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם גִּדְעוֹן אֶשְׁאֲלָה מִכֶּם שְׁאֵלָה וּתְנוּ לִי אִישׁ נֶזֶם שְׁלָלוֹ: כִּי נִזְמֵי זָהָב לָהֶם כִּי יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים הֵם. כהוַיֹּאמְרוּ נָתוֹן נִתֵּן; וַיִּפְרְשׂוּ אֶת הַשִּׂמְלָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ שָׁמָּה אִישׁ נֶזֶם שְׁלָלוֹ. כווַיְהִי מִשְׁקַל נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר שָׁאָל אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת זָהָב לְבַד מִן הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִים וְהַנְּטִיפוֹת וּבִגְדֵי הָאַרְגָּמָן שֶׁעַל מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן וּלְבַד מִן הָעֲנָקוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּצַוְּארֵי גְמַלֵּיהֶם. כזוַיַּעַשׂ אוֹתוֹ גִדְעוֹן לְאֵפוֹד וַיַּצֵּג אוֹתוֹ בְעִירוֹ בְּעָפְרָה וַיִּזְנוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרָיו שָׁם; וַיְהִי לְגִדְעוֹן וּלְבֵיתוֹ לְמוֹקֵשׁ. כחוַיִּכָּנַע מִדְיָן לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא יָסְפוּ לָשֵׂאת רֹאשָׁם; וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בִּימֵי גִדְעוֹן.
כטוַיֵּלֶךְ יְרֻבַּעַל בֶּן יוֹאָשׁ וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּבֵיתוֹ. לוּלְגִדְעוֹן הָיוּ שִׁבְעִים בָּנִים יֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ: כִּי נָשִׁים רַבּוֹת הָיוּ לוֹ. לאוּפִילַגְשׁוֹ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁכֶם יָלְדָה לּוֹ גַם הִיא בֵּן; וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת שְׁמוֹ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ. לבוַיָּמָת גִּדְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹאָשׁ בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה; וַיִּקָּבֵר בְּקֶבֶר יוֹאָשׁ אָבִיו בְּעָפְרָה אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי.
לגוַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר מֵת גִּדְעוֹן וַיָּשׁוּבוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּזְנוּ אַחֲרֵי הַבְּעָלִים; וַיָּשִׂימוּ לָהֶם בַּעַל בְּרִית לֵאלֹהִים. לדוְלֹא זָכְרוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת יהוה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם הַמַּצִּיל אוֹתָם מִיַּד כָּל אֹיְבֵיהֶם מִסָּבִיב. להוְלֹא עָשׂוּ חֶסֶד עִם בֵּית יְרֻבַּעַל גִּדְעוֹן: כְּכָל הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 