Chapter 8

1And the men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this thing that you have done to us; not to call us, when you went to fight with Midian?" And they quarelled with him vehemently.   אוַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו אִ֣ישׁ אֶפְרַ֗יִם מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֚ר הַזֶּה֙ עָשִֹ֣יתָ לָּ֔נוּ לְבִלְתִּי֙ קְרֹ֣אות לָ֔נוּ כִּ֥י הָלַ֖כְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם בְּמִדְיָ֑ן וַיְרִיב֥וּן אִתּ֖וֹ בְּחָזְקָֽה:
2And he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?   בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מֶה־עָשִֹ֥יתִי עַתָּ֖ה כָּכֶ֑ם הֲל֗וֹא ט֛וֹב עֹלְל֥וֹת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מִבְצִ֥יר אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר:
What have I done now in comparison with you?. Of what importance is what I did at first, compared with what you subsequently did.   מה עשיתי עתה ככם.  מה חשוב מה שעשיתי בתחילתו, כמה שעשיתם אתם בסוף:
Are not the gleanings… better. Are not the gleanings that came to your hand at the end better than the vintage that I and my family picked in the beginning, considering that in your hands the Lord delivered the kings (i. e., the princes).   הלא טוב עללות.  שבאו לידכם בסוף מתחלת הבציר שבצרנו אני ומשפחתי, שהרי בידכם נתן ה' את המלכים:
3Into your hands has God given the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger was abated toward him, when he said this thing.   גבְּיֶדְכֶם֩ נָתַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־שָׂרֵ֚י מִדְיָן֙ אֶת־עֹרֵ֣ב וְאֶת־זְאֵ֔ב וּמַה־יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי עֲשֹ֣וֹת כָּכֶ֑ם אָ֗ז רָפְתָ֚ה רוּחָם֙ מֵֽעָלָ֔יו בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה:
and what was I able. to do that would be as outstanding as your deed?   ומה יכלתי.  לעשות שיהא חשוב כמעשה שלכם:
4And Gideon came to the Jordan; he crossed, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint and (yet) pursuing.   דוַיָּבֹ֥א גִדְע֖וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּ֑נָה עֹבֵ֣ר ה֗וּא וּשְׁלשׁ־מֵא֚וֹת הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ עֲיֵפִ֖ים וְרֹדְפִֽים:
he crossed, and the three hundred men. They were crossing the Jordan after Zebah and Zalmunna who had passed earlier (perhaps even prior to the blockade above 7:24) and laid waste to the land of Reuben, Gad and Menasseh. Therefore, he crossed to take revenge against them also.   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:
5And he said to the men of Succoth, "Give now loaves of bread to the people that follow me, for they are faint, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."   הוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י סֻכּ֔וֹת תְּנוּ־נָא֙ כִּכְּר֣וֹת לֶ֔חֶם לָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּרַגְלָ֑י כִּי־עֲיֵפִ֣ים הֵ֔ם וְאָנֹכִ֗י רֹדֵ֛ף אַחֲרֵ֛י זֶ֥בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֖ע מַלְכֵ֥י מִדְיָֽן:
to the men of Succoth. Who were Israelites.   לאנשי סכות.  ישראל היו:
6And the officials of Succoth said, "Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give your army bread?"   ווַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שָׂרֵ֣י סֻכּ֔וֹת הֲ֠כַף זֶ֧בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֛ע עַתָּ֖ה בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־נִתֵּ֥ן לִֽצְבָאֲךָ֖ לָֽחֶם:
Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand. That you boast that you saved us from Midian?   הכף זבח וצלמנע בידך.  שאתה מתפאר שהצלתנו מיד מדין:
7And Gideon said, "Therefore when the Lord delivers Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will thresh your flesh (with) the thorns of the wilderness and with the briers."   זוַיֹּ֣אמֶר גִּדְע֔וֹן לָכֵ֗ן בְּתֵ֧ת יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־זֶ֥בַח וְאֶת־צַלְמֻנָּ֖ע בְּיָדִ֑י וְדַשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־בְּשַׂרְכֶ֔ם אֶת־קוֹצֵ֥י הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְאֶת־הַֽבַּרְקֳנִֽים:
the briers. Ronzes in O.F.   הברקנים.  רונצי"ש בלע"ז:
8And when he went up from there to Penuel, and he spoke to them in a like manner; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.   חוַיַּ֚עַל מִשָּׁם֙ פְּנוּאֵ֔ל וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כָּזֹ֑את וַיַּעֲנ֚וּ אוֹתוֹ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י פְנוּאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָנ֖וּ אַנְשֵׁ֥י סֻכּֽוֹת:
9And he said also to the men of Penuel, saying, "When I come back in peace, I will break down this tower."   טוַיֹּ֛אמֶר גַּם־לְאַנְשֵׁ֥י פְנוּאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בְּשׁוּבִ֣י בְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶתֹּ֖ץ אֶת־הַמִּגְדָּ֥ל הַזֶּֽה:
10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand (men), all that were left of all the camp of the children of the east; for they that fell were a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword.   יוְזֶ֨בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֜ע בַּקַּרְקֹ֗ר וּמַחֲנֵיהֶ֚ם עִמָּם֙ כַּחֲמֵ֚שֶׁת עָשָׂר֙ אֶ֔לֶף כֹּ֚ל הַנּ֣וֹתָרִ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל מַחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי־קֶ֑דֶם וְהַנֹּ֣פְלִ֔ים מֵאָ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חָֽרֶב:
were in Karkor. The name of a place.   בקרקר.  שם מקום:
11And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he smote the camp, for the camp was secure.   יאוַיַּ֣עַל גִּדְע֗וֹן דֶּרֶךְ הַשְּׁכוּנֵ֣י בָֽאֳהָלִ֔ים מִקֶּ֥דֶם לְנֹ֖בַח וְיָגְבְּהָ֑ה וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הָ֥יָה בֶֽטַח:
by the way of the tent dwellers. Through the land of Kedar and Arabia, whose people live in the desert in tents, constantly grazing their flock and not residing in houses.   דרך השכוני באהלים.  דרך ארץ קדר וערב השוכנים במדבר באהליהם, שרועים מקנה תמיד ואין דרים בבתים:
on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah. Which were Israelite cities. However, he only wanted to go there roundabout, so that they should not be detected, and thereby suddenly surprise them.   מקדם לנבח ויגבהה.  שהם ערי ישראל, ולא רצה לילך שם אלא דרך עקלתון, כדי שלא ירגישו בהם, ויהומם פתאום:
12And Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued after them; and he captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and all the camp he terrified.   יבוַיָּנ֗וּסוּ זֶ֚בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּלְכֹּ֞ד אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י | מַלְכֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן אֶת־זֶ֙בַח֙ וְאֶת־צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וְכָל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הֶחֱרִֽיד:
13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle when the sun was still high.   יגוַיָּ֛שָׁב גִּדְע֥וֹן בֶּן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ מִן־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה מִֽלְמַעֲלֵ֖ה הֶחָֽרֶס:
when the sun was still high. I.e., when the sun had not yet set, while the sun (חֶרֶס) still appears high (לְמַעֲלָה).   מלמעלה החרס.  עד שלא שקעה השמש, בעוד החמה נראית גבוה:
14And he caught a youth of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he wrote down for him the officials of Succoth, and its elders, seventy-seven men.   ידוַיִּלְכָּד־נַ֛עַר מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י סֻכּ֖וֹת וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֑הוּ וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב אֵלָ֜יו אֶת־שָׂרֵ֚י סֻכּוֹת֙ וְאֶת־זְקֵנֶ֔יהָ שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָ֖ה אִֽישׁ:
15And he came to the men of Succoth, and he said, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna (about) whom you did taunt me, saying, 'Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give to your tired men bread?"   טווַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־אַנְשֵׁ֣י סֻכּ֔וֹת וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֖ה זֶ֣בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֑ע אֲשֶׁר֩ חֵרַפְתֶּ֨ם אוֹתִ֜י לֵאמֹ֗ר הֲ֠כַף זֶ֣בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֚ע עַתָּה֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ כִּ֥י נִתֵּ֛ן לַאֲנָשֶׁ֥יךָ הַיְּעֵפִ֖ים לָֽחֶם:
16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and the briers, and with them he broke the men of Succoth.   טזוַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־זִקְנֵ֣י הָעִ֔יר וְאֶת־קוֹצֵ֥י הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְאֶת־הַֽבַּרְקֳנִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣דַע בָּהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אַנְשֵׁ֥י סֻכּֽוֹת:
וַיּוֹדַע בָּהֶם. And broke with them.   וידע בהם.  (תרגום:) ותבר בהון:
17And he broke down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.   יזוְאֶת־מִגְדַּ֥ל פְּנוּאֵ֖ל נָתָ֑ץ וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֖ג אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָעִֽיר:
18And he said to Zebah and to Zalmunna, "Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?" And they said, "As you are, so were they; one was as the form of the children of the king."   יחוַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶל־זֶ֙בַח֙ וְאֶל־צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע אֵיפֹה֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲרַגְתֶּ֖ם בְּתָב֑וֹר וַֽיֹּאמְרוּ֙ כָּמ֣וֹךָ כְמוֹהֶ֔ם אֶחָ֕ד כְּתֹ֖אַר בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
One was as the form of the children of the king. Heb. אֶחָד כְּתֹאַר בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. Targum Jonathan renders: One among them appeared like the children of the king. However, we can interpret: As you are, so were they, all of you possessing one appearance (כָּמוֹךָ כְמוֹהֶם אֶחָד); since they appeared like the children of kings (כְּתֹאַר בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ).   אחד כתאר בני המלך.  יונתן תרגם: אחד היה בהם שתוארו כתואר בני המלך. ויש לפותרו: כמוך כמוהם, תואר אחד לכם, כי כתואר בני מלכים היו:
19And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you."   יטוַיֹּאמַ֕ר אַחַ֥י בְּנֵֽי־אִמִּ֖י הֵ֑ם חַי־יְהֹוָ֗ה ל֚וּ הַחֲיִתֶ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם לֹ֥א הָרַ֖גְתִּי אֶתְכֶֽם:
20And he said to Jether, his first born, "Stand up, (and) kill them." But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still young.   כוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לְיֶ֣תֶר בְּכוֹר֔וֹ ק֖וּם הֲרֹ֣ג אוֹתָ֑ם וְלֹא־שָׁלַ֨ף הַנַּ֚עַר חַרְבּוֹ֙ כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔א כִּ֥י עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ נָֽעַר:
But the young man did not draw his sword. To kill them, because he was afraid of them.   ולא שלף הנער חרבו.  להורגם, שהיה ירא מהם:
21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "You stand up and kill us; for as the man is, so is his strength." And Gideon arose, and he killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescents that were on the necks of their camels.   כאוַיֹּ֜אמֶר זֶ֣בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֗ע ק֚וּם אַתָּה֙ וּפְגַע־בָּ֔נוּ כִּ֥י כָאִ֖ישׁ גְּבוּרָת֑וֹ וַיָּ֣קָם גִּדְע֗וֹן וַֽיַּהֲרֹג֙ אֶת־זֶ֣בַח וְאֶת־צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־הַשַּׂ֣הֲרֹנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם:
the crescents. Of gold, lunettes in O.F.   השהרנים.  לוינ"ש בלע"ז, של זהב:
22Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you, and your son, also your son's son; for you have saved us from the hand of Midian."   כבוַיֹּאמְר֚וּ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־גִּדְע֔וֹן מְשָׁל־בָּ֙נוּ֙ גַּם־אַתָּ֔ה גַּם־בִּנְךָ֖ גַּ֣ם בֶּן־בְּנֶ֑ךָ כִּ֥י הוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖נוּ מִיַּ֥ד מִדְיָֽן:
23And Gideon said to them, "I shall not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you."   כגוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ גִּדְע֔וֹן לֹֽא־אֶמְשֹׁ֚ל אֲנִי֙ בָּכֶ֔ם וְלֹֽא־יִמְשֹׁ֥ל בְּנִ֖י בָּכֶ֑ם יְהֹוָ֖ה יִמְשֹׁ֥ל בָּכֶֽם:
24And Gideon said to them, "I would make a request of you, that you give me, every man, the nose-ring of his spoil." For they had golden nose-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.   כדוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם גִּדְע֗וֹן אֶשְׁאֲלָ֚ה מִכֶּם֙ שְׁאֵלָ֔ה וּתְנוּ־לִ֕י אִ֖ישׁ נֶ֣זֶם שְׁלָל֑וֹ כִּֽי־נִזְמֵ֚י זָהָב֙ לָהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים הֵֽם:
25And they said, "We shall willingly give." And they spread out the garment, and every man threw therein the nose-ring of his spoil.   כהוַיֹּאמְר֖וּ נָת֣וֹן נִתֵּ֑ן וַֽיִּפְרְשׂוּ֙ אֶת־הַשִּׂמְלָ֔ה וַיַּשְׁלִ֣יכוּ שָׁ֔מָּה אִ֖ישׁ נֶ֥זֶם שְׁלָלֽוֹ:
26And the weight of the golden nose-rings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred (dinars of) gold, beside the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple garments that were on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were on the necks of their camels.   כווַיְהִ֗י מִשְׁקַ֞ל נִזְמֵ֚י הַזָּהָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁאָ֔ל אֶ֥לֶף וּשְׁבַע־מֵא֖וֹת זָהָ֑ב לְ֠בַד מִן־הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִ֨ים וְהַנְּטִפ֜וֹת וּבִגְדֵ֣י הָאַרְגָּמָ֗ן שֶׁעַל֙ מַלְכֵ֣י מִדְיָ֔ן וּלְבַד֙ מִן־הָ֣עֲנָק֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם:
הַשַּׂהֲרוֹנִים וְהַנְּטִיפוֹת. The crescents and the pendants [after Targum Jonathan].   השהרנים והנטפות.  (תרגום:) ענקיא וכלילא:
27And Gideon made it into an Ephod, and he set it up in his city, in Ophrah; and all Israel went astray after it there; and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.   כזוַיַּעַשֹ֩ אוֹת֨וֹ גִדְע֜וֹן לְאֵפ֗וֹד וַיַּצֵּ֨ג אוֹת֚וֹ בְעִירוֹ֙ בְּעָפְרָ֔ה וַיִּזְנ֧וּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אַחֲרָ֖יו שָׁ֑ם וַיְהִ֛י לְגִדְע֥וֹן וּלְבֵית֖וֹ לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ:
And Gideon made it into an Ephod. To serve as a reminder of the great victory, by showing how immense their army was that the nose rings of the nobles amounted to all this gold.   ויעש אותו גדעון לאפוד.  להיות לזכרון על תשועה גדולה, לראות כמה היה חילם כבד שבנזמי חשוביהם היה כל הזהב הזה:
and all Israel went astray after it. After Gideon’s death.   ויזנו כל ישראל אחריו.  לאחר מיתת גדעון:
28Now Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they did not continue to raise their heads. And the land rested forty years in the days of Gideon.   כחוַיִּכָּנַ֣ע מִדְיָ֗ן לִפְנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹ֥א יָסְפ֖וּ לָשֵֹ֣את רֹאשָׁ֑ם וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֛רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בִּימֵ֥י גִדְעֽוֹן:
29And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his house.   כטוַיֵּ֛לֶךְ יְרֻבַּ֥עַל בֶּן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּבֵיתֽוֹ:
30And Gideon had seventy sons, who came forth from his thigh; for he had many wives.   לוּלְגִדְע֗וֹן הָיוּ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים בָּנִ֔ים יֹצְאֵ֖י יְרֵכ֑וֹ כִּֽי־נָשִׁ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹת הָ֥יוּ לֽוֹ:
31And his concubine who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son. And he designated his name Abimelech.   לאוּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁכֶ֔ם יָֽלְדָה־לּ֥וֹ גַם־הִ֖יא בֵּ֑ן וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ:
32And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and he was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.   לבוַיָּ֛מָת גִּדְע֥וֹן בֶּן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ בְּשֵׂיבָ֣ה טוֹבָ֑ה וַיִּקָּבֵ֗ר בְּקֶ֙בֶר֙ יוֹאָ֣שׁ אָבִ֔יו בְּעָפְרָ֖ה אֲבִ֥י הָֽעֶזְרִֽי:
33And it was, when Gideon died, that the children of Israel turned again astray after the Baalim; and they made for themselves Baal-berith for a god.   לגוַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ מֵ֣ת גִּדְע֔וֹן וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּזְנ֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַבְּעָלִ֑ים וַיָּשִֹ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם בַּ֥עַל בְּרִ֖ית לֵאלֹהִֽים:
Baal- berith. This was its name.   בעל ברית.  כך שמו:
34And the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had saved them from the hand of all their enemies around.   לדוְלֹ֚א זָֽכְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם הַמַּצִּ֥יל אוֹתָ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד כָּל־אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב:
35And they did not do kindness with the house of Jerubbaal, (who was) Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had done to Israel.   להוְלֹֽא־עָשֹ֣וּ חֶ֔סֶד עִם־בֵּ֥ית יְרֻבַּ֖עַל גִּדְע֑וֹן כְּכָל־הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֹ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
And they did not do kindness with the house of Jerubbaal. They killed his sons, as Scripture states below (9: 5).   ולא עשו חסד וגו'.  שהרגו את בניו, כמו שכתוב בענין (להלן ט ה):