Shoftim (שופטים) - Giudici 8

STUTTGARTENSIA-DELITZSCH	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו אִישׁ אֶפְרַיִם מָה־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ לְבִלְתִּי קְרֹאות לָנוּ כִּי הָלַכְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵם בְּמִדְיָן וַיְרִיבוּן אִתֹּו בְּחָזְקָה	1 And the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this, that you wanted to do, so that you would not call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they rebuked him strongly, and came close to using violence.
2 וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם מֶה־עָשִׂיתִי עַתָּה כָּכֶם הֲלֹוא טֹוב עֹלְלֹות אֶפְרַיִם מִבְצִיר אֲבִיעֶזֶר	2 And he responded to them: “But what could I have done that would be so great as what you have done? Is not one bunch of grapes of Ephraim better than the vintages of Abiezer?
3 בְּיֶדְכֶם נָתַן אֱלֹהִים אֶת־שָׂרֵי מִדְיָן אֶת־עֹרֵב וְאֶת־זְאֵב וּמַה־יָּכֹלְתִּי עֲשֹׂות כָּכֶם אָז רָפְתָה רוּחָם מֵעָלָיו בְּדַבְּרֹו הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה	3 The Lord has delivered into your hands the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What could I have done that would be so great as what you have done?” And when he had said this, their spirit, which was swelling up against him, was quieted.
4 וַיָּבֹא גִדְעֹון הַיַּרְדֵּנָה עֹבֵר הוּא וּשְׁלֹשׁ־מֵאֹות הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִתֹּו עֲיֵפִים וְרֹדְפִים	4 And when Gideon had arrived at the Jordan, he crossed over it with the three hundred men who were with him. And they were so weary that they were unable to pursue those who were fleeing.
5 וַיֹּאמֶר לְאַנְשֵׁי סֻכֹּות תְּנוּ־נָא כִּכְּרֹות לֶחֶם לָעָם אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלָי כִּי־עֲיֵפִים הֵם וְאָנֹכִי רֹדֵף אַחֲרֵי זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן	5 And he said to the men of Succoth, “I beg you, give bread to the people who are with me, for they are greatly weakened, so that we may be able to pursue Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6 וַיֹּאמֶר שָׂרֵי סֻכֹּות הֲכַף זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע עַתָּה בְּיָדֶךָ כִּי־נִתֵּן לִצְבָאֲךָ לָחֶם	6 The leaders of Succoth answered, “Perhaps the palms of the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna are in your hand, and for this reason, you request that we give bread to your army.”
7 וַיֹּאמֶר גִּדְעֹון לָכֵן בְּתֵת יְהוָה אֶת־זֶבַח וְאֶת־צַלְמֻנָּע בְּיָדִי וְדַשְׁתִּי אֶת־בְּשַׂרְכֶם אֶת־קֹוצֵי הַמִּדְבָּר וְאֶת־הַבַּרְקֳנִים	7 And he said to them, “So then, when the Lord will have delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hands, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the desert.”
8 וַיַּעַל מִשָּׁם פְּנוּאֵל וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם כָּזֹאת וַיַּעֲנוּ אֹותֹו אַנְשֵׁי פְנוּאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר עָנוּ אַנְשֵׁי סֻכֹּות	8 And going up from there, he arrived at Penuel. And he spoke to the men of that place similarly. And they also answered him, just as the men of Succoth had answered.
9 וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־לְאַנְשֵׁי פְנוּאֵל לֵאמֹר בְּשׁוּבִי בְשָׁלֹום אֶתֹּץ אֶת־הַמִּגְדָּל הַזֶּה׃ פ	9 And so he said to them also, “When I will have returned as a victor in peace, I will destroy this tower.”
10 וְזֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע בַּקַּרְקֹר וּמַחֲנֵיהֶם עִמָּם כַּחֲמֵשֶׁת עָשָׂר אֶלֶף כֹּל הַנֹּותָרִים מִכֹּל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי־קֶדֶם וְהַנֹּפְלִים מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף אִישׁ שֹׁלֵף חָרֶב	10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were resting with their entire army. For fifteen thousand men were left out of all the troops of the eastern people. And one hundred twenty thousand warriors that drew the sword had been cut down.
11 וַיַּעַל גִּדְעֹון דֶּרֶךְ הַשְּׁכוּנֵי בָאֳהָלִים מִקֶּדֶם לְנֹבַח וְיָגְבֳּהָה וַיַּךְ אֶת־הַמַּחֲנֶה וְהַמַּחֲנֶה הָיָה בֶטַח	11 And Gideon ascended by the way of those who were dwelling in tents, to the eastern part of Nobah and Jogbehah. And he struck the camp of the enemies, who were confident and were suspecting nothing adverse.
12 וַיָּנוּסוּ זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת־שְׁנֵי ׀ מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן אֶת־זֶבַח וְאֶת־צַלְמֻנָּע וְכָל־הַמַּחֲנֶה הֶחֱרִיד	12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled. And Gideon pursued and overtook them, sending their entire army into confusion.
13 וַיָּשָׁב גִּדְעֹון בֶּן־יֹואָשׁ מִן־הַמִּלְחָמָה מִלְמַעֲלֵה הֶחָרֶס	13 And returning from the war before sunrise,
14 וַיִּלְכָּד־נַעַר מֵאַנְשֵׁי סֻכֹּות וַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּ וַיִּכְתֹּב אֵלָיו אֶת־שָׂרֵי סֻכֹּות וְאֶת־זְקֵנֶיהָ שִׁבְעִים וְשִׁבְעָה אִישׁ	14 he took a boy from among the men of Succoth. And he asked him the names of the leaders and elders of Succoth. And he described seventy-seven men.
15 וַיָּבֹא אֶל־אַנְשֵׁי סֻכֹּות וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע אֲשֶׁר חֵרַפְתֶּם אֹותִי לֵאמֹר הֲכַף זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע עַתָּה בְּיָדֶךָ כִּי נִתֵּן לַאֲנָשֶׁיךָ הַיְּעֵפִים לָחֶם	15 And he went to Succoth, and he said to them: “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, over whom you rebuked me, saying: ‘Perhaps the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna are in your hands, and for this reason, you request that we give bread to men who are languishing and weakened.’ ”
16 וַיִּקַּח אֶת־זִקְנֵי הָעִיר וְאֶת־קֹוצֵי הַמִּדְבָּר וְאֶת־הַבַּרְקֳנִים וַיֹּדַע בָּהֶם אֵת אַנְשֵׁי סֻכֹּות	16 Therefore, he took the elders of the city, and, using the thorns and briers of the desert, he threshed them with these, and he cut the men of Succoth to pieces.
17 וְאֶת־מִגְדַּל פְּנוּאֵל נָתָץ וַיַּהֲרֹג אֶת־אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר	17 He also overturned the tower of Penuel, and he killed the men of the city.
18 וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־זֶבַח וְאֶל־צַלְמֻנָּע אֵיפֹה הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר הֲרַגְתֶּם בְּתָבֹור וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּמֹוךָ כְמֹוהֶם אֶחָד כְּתֹאַר בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ	18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were those whom you killed at Tabor?” They responded, “They were like you, and one of them was like the son of a king.”
19 וַיֹּאמַר אַחַי בְּנֵי־אִמִּי הֵם חַי־יְהוָה לוּ הַחֲיִתֶם אֹותָם לֹא הָרַגְתִּי אֶתְכֶם	19 He answered them: “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had preserved them, I would not kill you.”
20 וַיֹּאמֶר לְיֶתֶר בְּכֹורֹו קוּם הֲרֹג אֹותָם וְלֹא־שָׁלַף הַנַּעַר חַרְבֹּו כִּי יָרֵא כִּי עֹודֶנּוּ נָעַר	20 And he said to Jether, his firstborn son, “Rise up, and put them to death.” But he did not draw his sword. For he was afraid, being still a boy.
21 וַיֹּאמֶר זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע קוּם אַתָּה וּפְגַע־בָּנוּ כִּי כָאִישׁ גְּבוּרָתֹו וַיָּקָם גִּדְעֹון וַיַּהֲרֹג אֶת־זֶבַח וְאֶת־צַלְמֻנָּע וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִים אֲשֶׁר בְּצַוְּארֵי גְמַלֵּיהֶם	21 And Zebah and Zalmunna said: “You should rise up and rush against us. For the strength of a man is in accord with his age.” Gideon rose up, and he killed Zebah and Zalmunna. And he took the ornaments and studs, with which the necks of the royal camels are usually adorned.
22 וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־גִּדְעֹון מְשָׁל־בָּנוּ גַּם־אַתָּה גַּם־בִּנְךָ גַּם בֶּן־בְּנֶךָ כִּי הֹושַׁעְתָּנוּ מִיַּד מִדְיָן	22 And all the men of Israel said to Gideon: “You should rule over us, and your son, and your son’s son. For you freed us from the hand of Midian.”
23 וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם גִּדְעֹון לֹא־אֶמְשֹׁל אֲנִי בָּכֶם וְלֹא־יִמְשֹׁל בְּנִי בָּכֶם יְהוָה יִמְשֹׁל בָּכֶם	23 And he said to them: “I will not rule over you. Neither shall my son rule over you. Instead, the Lord shall rule over you.”
24 וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם גִּדְעֹון אֶשְׁאֲלָה מִכֶּם שְׁאֵלָה וּתְנוּ־לִי אִישׁ נֶזֶם שְׁלָלֹו כִּי־נִזְמֵי זָהָב לָהֶם כִּי יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים הֵם	24 And he said to them: “I petition one request from you. Give me the earrings from your spoils.” For the Ishmaelites were accustomed to wear gold earrings.
25 וַיֹּאמְרוּ נָתֹון נִתֵּן וַיִּפְרְשׂוּ אֶת־הַשִּׂמְלָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ שָׁמָּה אִישׁ נֶזֶם שְׁלָלֹו	25 They responded, “We are very willing to give them.” And spreading a cloak on the ground, they cast upon it the earrings from the spoils.
26 וַיְהִי מִשְׁקַל נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר שָׁאָל אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע־מֵאֹות זָהָב לְבַד מִן־הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִים וְהַנְּטִפֹות וּבִגְדֵי הָאַרְגָּמָן שֶׁעַל מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן וּלְבַד מִן־הָעֲנָקֹות אֲשֶׁר בְּצַוְּארֵי גְמַלֵּיהֶם	26 And the weight of the earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, aside from the ornaments, and necklaces, and purple garments, which the kings of Midian were accustomed to use, and aside from the gold chains on the camels.
27 וַיַּעַשׂ אֹותֹו גִדְעֹון לְאֵפֹוד וַיַּצֵּג אֹותֹו בְעִירֹו בְּעָפְרָה וַיִּזְנוּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרָיו שָׁם וַיְהִי לְגִדְעֹון וּלְבֵיתֹו לְמֹוקֵשׁ	27 And Gideon made an ephod from these, and he kept it in his city, Ophrah. And all of Israel committed fornication with it, and it became a ruin to Gideon and to all his house.
28 וַיִּכָּנַע מִדְיָן לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא יָסְפוּ לָשֵׂאת רֹאשָׁם וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בִּימֵי גִדְעֹון׃ פ	28 But Midian was humbled before the sons of Israel. Neither were they able any longer to lift up their necks. But the land rested for forty years, while Gideon presided.
29 וַיֵּלֶךְ יְרֻבַּעַל בֶּן־יֹואָשׁ וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּבֵיתֹו	29 And so Jerubbaal, the son of Joash, went and lived in his own house.
30 וּלְגִדְעֹון הָיוּ שִׁבְעִים בָּנִים יֹצְאֵי יְרֵכֹו כִּי־נָשִׁים רַבֹּות הָיוּ לֹו	30 And he had seventy sons, who went forth from his own thigh. For he had many wives.
31 וּפִילַגְשֹׁו אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁכֶם יָלְדָה־לֹּו גַם־הִיא בֵּן וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־שְׁמֹו אֲבִימֶלֶךְ	31 But his concubine, whom he had in Shechem, bore him a son named Abimelech.
32 וַיָּמָת גִּדְעֹון בֶּן־יֹואָשׁ בְּשֵׂיבָה טֹובָה וַיִּקָּבֵר בְּקֶבֶר יֹואָשׁ אָבִיו בְּעָפְרָה אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי׃ פ	32 And Gideon, the son of Joash, died in a good old age, and he was buried in the sepulcher of his father, at Ophrah, of the family of Ezri.
33 וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר מֵת גִּדְעֹון וַיָּשׁוּבוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּזְנוּ אַחֲרֵי הַבְּעָלִים וַיָּשִׂימוּ לָהֶם בַּעַל בְּרִית לֵאלֹהִים	33 But after Gideon died, the sons of Israel turned away, and they committed fornication with the Baals. And they struck a covenant with Baal, so that he would be their god.
34 וְלֹא זָכְרוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם הַמַּצִּיל אֹותָם מִיַּד כָּל־אֹיְבֵיהֶם מִסָּבִיב	34 And they did not remember the Lord their God, who rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on all sides.
35 וְלֹא־עָשׂוּ חֶסֶד עִם־בֵּית יְרֻבַּעַל גִּדְעֹון כְּכָל־הַטֹּובָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ פ	35 Neither did they show mercy to the house of Jerubbaal Gideon, in accord with all the good that he had done for Israel.