Revised Literal Translation

Judges 7

1Then Jerubbaalיְרֻבַּ֜עַלye.ru.Ba.'alH3378, who isGideonגִדְע֗וֹןgid.'onH1439,and all the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971that werewith him, rose up earlyוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨םvai.yash.KemH7925,and pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583beside the well of HarodH5878:so that the armyוּמַחֲנֵ֤הu.ma.cha.NehH4264of the Midianitesמִדְיָן֙mid.YanH4080were on the north sideמִצָּפ֔וֹןmi.tza.FonH6828of them, by the hillמִגִּבְעַ֥תmi.giv.'AtH1389of Morehהַמּוֹרֶ֖הha.mo.RehH4176,in the valleyבָּעֵֽמֶק׃ba.'E.mekH6010.

2And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Gideonגִּדְע֔וֹןgid.'onH1439,The peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971that are with thee aretoo manyרַ֗בRavH7227for me to giveמִתִּתִּ֥יmi.ti.TiH5414the Midianitesמִדְיָ֖ןmid.YanH4080into their handsבְּיָדָ֑םbe.ya.DamH3027,lest Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478vauntיִתְפָּאֵ֨רyit.pa.'ErH6286themselves against me, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Mine own handיָדִ֖יya.DiH3027hath savedהוֹשִׁ֥יעָהho.Shi.'ahH3467me.

3Now therefore go toנָ֜אna'H4994,proclaimקְרָ֨אke.Ra'H7121in the earsבְּאָזְנֵ֤יbe.'a.ze.NeiH241of the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, Whosoever isfearfulיָרֵ֣אya.Re'H3373and afraidוְחָרֵ֔דve.cha.RedH2730,let him returnיָשֹׁ֥בya.ShoH7725and depart earlyוְיִצְפֹּ֖רve.yitz.PorH6852from mountמֵהַ֣רme.HarH2022Gileadהַגִּלְעָ֑דha.gil.'AdH1568.And there returnedוַיָּ֣שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725of the peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971twentyעֶשְׂרִ֤ים'es.RimH6242and twoוּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙u.she.Na.yimH8147thousandאֶ֔לֶף'E.lefH505;and there remainedנִשְׁאָֽרוּ׃ סnish.'A.ruH7604tenוַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶתva.'a.Se.retH6235thousandאֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.FimH505.

4And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Gideonגִּדְע֗וֹןgid.'onH1439,The peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971are yet toomanyרָב֒ravH7227;bring them downהוֹרֵ֤דho.RedH3381unto the waterהַמַּ֔יִםha.Ma.yimH4325,and I will tryוְאֶצְרְפֶ֥נּוּve.'etz.re.Fe.nuH6884them for thee there: and it shall be, thatof whom I sayאֹמַ֨ר'o.MarH559unto thee, This shall goH3212with thee, the same shall goH3212with thee; and of whomsoever I sayאֹמַ֜ר'o.MarH559unto thee, This shall not goH3212with thee, the same shall not goH3212.

5So he brought downוַיּ֥וֹרֶדvai.Yo.redH3381the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971unto the waterהַמָּ֑יִם סha.Ma.yimH4325:And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Gideonגִּדְע֗וֹןgid.'onH1439,Every one that lappethיָלֹק֩ya.LokH3952of the waterהַמַּ֜יִםha.Ma.yimH4325with his tongueבִּלְשׁוֹנ֨וֹbil.sho.NoH3956,as a dogהַכֶּ֗לֶבha.Ke.levH3611lappethיָלֹ֣קya.LokH3952,him shalt thou setתַּצִּ֤יגta.TzigH3322by himself; likewise every one that boweth downיִכְרַ֥עyikh.Ra'H3766upon his kneesבִּרְכָּ֖יוbir.KavH1290to drinkלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃lish.TotH8354.

6And the numberמִסְפַּ֞רmis.ParH4557of them that lappedהַֽמֲלַקְקִ֤יםha.ma.la.KimH3952, puttingtheir handבְּיָדָם֙be.ya.DamH3027to their mouthפִּיהֶ֔םpi.HemH6310,were threeשְׁלֹ֥שׁshe.LoshH7969hundredמֵא֖וֹתme.'otH3967menאִ֑ישׁ'IshH376:but all the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971bowed downכָּרְע֥וּka.re.'UH3766upon their kneesבִּרְכֵיהֶ֖םbir.khei.HemH1290to drinkלִשְׁתּ֥וֹתlish.TotH8354waterמָֽיִם׃ סMa.yimH4325.

7And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Gideonגִּדְע֗וֹןgid.'onH1439,By the threeבִּשְׁלֹשׁ֩bish.LoshH7969hundredמֵא֨וֹתme.'otH3967menהָאִ֤ישׁha.'IshH376that lappedהַֽמֲלַקְקִים֙ha.ma.la.KimH3952will I saveאוֹשִׁ֣יעַ'o.Shi.a'H3467you, and deliverוְנָתַתִּ֥יve.na.ta.TiH5414the Midianitesמִדְיָ֖ןmid.YanH4080into thine handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027: and let all the otherpeopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971goH3212every manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376unto his placeלִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃lim.ko.MoH4725.

8So the peopleהָעָ֨םha.'AmH5971tookוַיִּקְח֣וּvai.yik.ChuH3947victualsצֵדָה֩tze.DahH6720in their handבְּיָדָ֜םbe.ya.DamH3027,and their trumpetsשׁוֹפְרֹֽתֵיהֶ֗םshof.ro.tei.HemH7782:and he sentשִׁלַּח֙shi.LachH7971allאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376the rest ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478every manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376unto his tentלְאֹֽהָלָ֔יוle.'o.ha.LavH168,and retainedהֶֽחֱזִ֑יקhe.che.ZikH2388those threeוּבִשְׁלֹשׁ־u.vish.losh-H7969hundredמֵא֥וֹתme.'otH3967menהָאִ֖ישׁha.'IshH376:and the armyוּמַחֲנֵ֣הu.ma.cha.NehH4264of Midianמִדְיָ֔ןmid.YanH4080was beneath him in the valleyבָּעֵֽמֶק׃ פba.'E.mekH6010.

9And it came to pass the same nightבַּלַּ֣יְלָהba.Lay.lahH3915,that Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Ariseק֖וּםkumH6965,get thee downרֵ֣דredH3381unto the armyבַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֑הba.ma.cha.NehH4264;for I have deliveredנְתַתִּ֖יוne.ta.TivH5414it into thine handבְּיָדֶֽךָ׃be.ya.De.khaH3027.

10But if thou fearיָרֵ֥אya.Re'H3373to go downלָרֶ֑דֶתla.Re.detH3381,goרֵ֥דredH3381thou with Phurahוּפֻרָ֥הu.fu.RahH6513thy servantנַעַרְךָ֖na.'ar.KhaH5288downH3381to the armyהַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃Ha.ma.cha.NehH4264:

11And thou shalt hearוְשָֽׁמַעְתָּ֙ve.sha.ma'.TaH8085what they sayיְדַבֵּ֔רוּye.da.Be.ruH1696;and afterwardוְאַחַר֙ve.'a.CharH310shall thine handsיָדֶ֔יךָya.Dei.khaH3027be strengthenedתֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָהte.che.Zak.nahH2388to go downוְיָרַדְתָּ֖ve.ya.rad.TaH3381unto the armyבַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֑הba.ma.cha.NehH4264.Then went he downוַיֵּ֤רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381with Phurahוּפֻרָ֣הu.fu.RahH6513his servantנַעֲר֔וֹna.'a.RoH5288unto the outsideקְצֵ֥הke.TzehH7097of the armed menהַחֲמֻשִׁ֖יםha.cha.mu.ShimH2571that werein the armyבַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃Ba.ma.cha.NehH4264.

12And the Midianitesוּמִדְיָ֨ןu.mid.YanH4080and the Amalekitesוַעֲמָלֵ֤קva.'a.ma.LekH6002and all the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of the eastקֶ֙דֶם֙ke.demH6924layנֹפְלִ֣יםno.fe.LimH5307along in the valleyבָּעֵ֔מֶקba.'E.mekH6010like grasshoppersכָּאַרְבֶּ֖הka.'ar.BehH697for multitudeלָרֹ֑בla.RoH7230;and their camelsוְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶם֙ve.lig.ma.lei.HemH1581werewithout numberמִסְפָּ֔רmis.ParH4557,as the sandכַּח֛וֹלka.CholH2344by the seaהַיָּ֖םhai.YamH3220sideשְׂפַ֥תse.FatH8193for multitudeלָרֹֽב׃la.RoH7230.

13And when Gideonגִדְע֔וֹןgid.'onH1439was comeוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935, behold, there wasa manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376that toldמְסַפֵּ֥רme.sa.PerH5608a dreamחֲל֑וֹםcha.LomH2472unto his fellowלְרֵעֵ֖הוּle.re.'E.huH7453,and saidוַיֹּ֜אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold, I dreamedחָלַ֗מְתִּיcha.Lam.tiH2492a dreamחֲל֣וֹםcha.LomH2472,and, lo, a cakeצְלִ֜ילtze.lolH6742of barleyשְׂעֹרִים֙se.'o.RimH8184breadלֶ֤חֶםLe.chemH3899tumbledמִתְהַפֵּךְ֙mit.ha.peKhH2015into the armyבְּמַחֲנֵ֣הbe.ma.cha.NehH4264of Midianמִדְיָ֔ןmid.YanH4080,and cameוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto a tentהָ֠אֹהֶלHa.'o.helH168,and smoteוַיַּכֵּ֧הוּvai.ya.Ke.huH5221it that it fellוַיִּפֹּ֛לvai.yi.PolH5307,and overturnedוַיַּהַפְכֵ֥הוּ לְמַ֖עְלָהvai.ya.haf.Khe.hu le.Ma'.lahH4605 H2015it, that the tentהָאֹֽהֶל׃ha.'O.helH168lay alongוְנָפַ֥לve.na.FalH5307.

14And his fellowרֵעֵ֤הוּre.'E.huH7453answeredוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, This isnothing else save the swordחֶ֛רֶבChe.revH2719of Gideonגִּדְע֥וֹןgid.'onH1439the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Joashיוֹאָ֖שׁyo.'AshH3101,a manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478: forinto his handבְּיָד֔וֹbe.ya.DoH3027hath Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.HimH430deliveredנָתַ֤ןna.TanH5414Midianמִדְיָ֖ןmid.YanH4080,and all the armyהַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ פHa.ma.cha.NehH4264.

15And it was so,when Gideonגִּדְע֜וֹןgid.'onH1439heardכִשְׁמֹ֨עַkhish.Mo.a'H8085the tellingמִסְפַּ֧רmis.ParH4557of the dreamהַחֲל֛וֹםha.cha.LomH2472,and the interpretationשִׁבְר֖וֹshiv.RoH7667thereof, that he worshippedוַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812,and returnedוַיָּ֙שָׁב֙vai.Ya.shovH7725into the armyמַחֲנֵ֣הma.cha.NehH4264of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Ariseק֔וּמוּKu.muH6965;for Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068hath deliveredנָתַ֧ןna.TanH5414into your handבְּיֶדְכֶ֖םbe.yed.KhemH3027the armyמַחֲנֵ֥הma.cha.NehH4264of Midianמִדְיָֽן׃mid.YanH4080.

16And he dividedוַיַּ֛חַץvai.Ya.chatzH2673the threeשְׁלֹשׁ־she.losh-H7969hundredמֵא֥וֹתme.'otH3967menהָאִ֖ישׁha.'IshH376intothreeשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הshe.lo.ShahH7969companiesרָאשִׁ֑יםra.ShimH7218,and he putוַיִּתֵּ֨ןvai.yi.TenH5414a trumpetשׁוֹפָר֤וֹתsho.fa.RotH7782in every man’s handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027,with emptyרֵקִ֔יםre.KimH7386pitchersוְכַדִּ֣יםve.kha.DimH3537,and lampsוְלַפִּדִ֖יםve.la.pi.DimH3940withinבְּת֥וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the pitchersהַכַּדִּֽים׃ha.ka.DimH3537.

17And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Lookתִרְא֖וּtir.'UH7200on me, and doתַּעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.SuH6213likewise: and, behold, when I comeבָא֙va'H935to the outsideבִּקְצֵ֣הbik.TzehH7097of the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הha.ma.cha.NehH4264, it shall be that,as I doאֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה'e.'e.SehH6213,so shall ye doתַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ta.'a.SunH6213.

18When I blowוְתָקַעְתִּי֙ve.ta.ka'.TiH8628with a trumpetבַּשּׁוֹפָ֔רba.sho.FarH7782, I and all that arewith me, then blowוּתְקַעְתֶּ֨םu.te.ka'.TemH8628ye the trumpetsבַּשּׁוֹפָר֜וֹתba.sho.fa.RotH7782also on every sideסְבִיבוֹת֙se.vi.VotH5439of all the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הha.ma.cha.NehH4264,and sayוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖םva.'a.mar.TemH559, The swordof Yhwhלַיהוָ֥הla.Yah.wehH3068,and of Gideonוּלְגִדְעֽוֹן׃ פu.le.gid.'onH1439.

19So Gideonגִ֠דְעוֹןGid.'onH1439,and the hundredוּמֵאָה־u.me.'ah-H3967menאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376that werewith him, cameוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto the outsideבִּקְצֵ֣הbik.TzehH7097of the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗הha.ma.cha.NehH4264in the beginningרֹ֚אשׁroshH7218of the middleהַתִּֽיכוֹנָ֔הha.ti.kho.NahH8484watchהָאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶתha.'ash.Mo.retH821;and they had butאַ֛ךְ'akhH389newlyהָקֵ֥םha.KemH6965setהֵקִ֖ימוּhe.Ki.muH6965the watchהַשֹּֽׁמְרִ֑יםha.sho.me.RimH8104:and they blewוַֽיִּתְקְעוּ֙vai.yit.ke.'UH8628the trumpetsבַּשּׁ֣וֹפָר֔וֹתba.Sho.fa.RotH7782,and brakeוְנָפ֥וֹץve.na.FotzH5310the pitchersהַכַּדִּ֖יםha.ka.DimH3537that werein their handsבְּיָדָֽם׃be.ya.DamH3027.

20And the threeשְׁלֹ֨שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969companiesהָרָאשִׁ֥יםha.ra.ShimH7218blewוַֽ֠יִּתְקְעוּVai.yit.ke.'uH8628the trumpetsבַּשּֽׁוֹפָרוֹת֮ba.sho.fa.rOtH7782,and brakeוַיִּשְׁבְּר֣וּvai.yish.be.RuH7665the pitchersהַכַּדִּים֒ha.ka.DimH3537,and heldוַיַּחֲזִ֤יקוּvai.ya.cha.Zi.kuH2388the lampsבַּלַּפִּדִ֔יםba.la.pi.DimH3940in their leftשְׂמאוֹלָם֙se.m.'o.LamH8040handsבְיַד־ve.yad-H3027,and the trumpetsהַשּׁוֹפָר֖וֹתha.sho.fa.RotH7782in their rightיְמִינָ֔םye.mi.NamH3225handsוּבְיַ֨ד־u.ve.Yad-H3027to blowלִתְק֑וֹעַlit.Ko.a'H8628withal:and they criedוַֽיִּקְרְא֔וּvai.yik.re.'UH7121,The swordחֶ֥רֶבChe.revH2719of Yhwhלַֽיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068,and of Gideonוּלְגִדְעֽוֹן׃u.le.gid.'onH1439.

21And they stoodוַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙vai.ya.'am.DuH5975every manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376in his place round aboutסָבִ֖יבsa.VivH5439the campלַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑הla.ma.cha.NehH4264:and all the armyהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הha.ma.cha.NehH4264ranוַיָּ֧רָץvai.Ya.rotzH7323,and criedוַיָּרִ֖יעוּvai.ya.Ri.'uH7321,and fledוַיָּנֽוּסוּ׃vai.ya.ni.suH5127.

22And the threeשְׁלֹשׁ־she.losh-H7969hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967blewוַֽיִּתְקְעוּ֮vai.yit.ke.'UH8628the trumpetsהַשּׁוֹפָרוֹת֒ha.sho.fa.rOtH7782,And Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068setוַיָּ֣שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760every man’sאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376swordחֶ֥רֶבChe.revH2719against his fellowבְּרֵעֵ֖הוּbe.re.'E.huH7453,even throughout all the armyהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑הha.ma.cha.NehH4264:and the armyהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜הha.ma.cha.NehH4264fledוַיָּ֨נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127to Beth–shittahH1029in Zererathצְֽרֵרָ֔תָהtze.re.Ra.tahH6888, andto the borderשְׂפַת־se.fat-H8193of Abel–meholahH65,unto Tabbathטַבָּֽת׃ta.BatH2888.

23And the menאִֽישׁ־'ish-H376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478gathered themselves togetherוַיִּצָּעֵ֧קvai.yi.tza.'EkH6817out of Naphtaliמִנַּפְתָּלִ֥יmi.naf.ta.LiH5321,and out of Asherאָשֵׁ֖ר'a.SherH836,and out of all Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֑הme.na.ShehH4519,and pursuedוַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּvai.yir.de.FuH7291afterאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310the Midianitesמִדְיָֽן׃mid.YanH4080.

24And Gideonגִּדְעוֹן֩gid.'OnH1439sentשָׁלַ֣חsha.LachH7971messengersוּמַלְאָכִ֡יםu.mal.'a.KhimH4397throughout all mountהַ֨רharH2022Ephraimאֶפְרַ֜יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Come downרְד֞וּre.DuH3381againstH7125the Midianitesמִדְיָן֙mid.YanH4080,and takeוְלִכְד֤וּve.likh.DuH3920before them the watersהַמַּ֔יִםha.Ma.yimH4325unto Beth–barahH1012and Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןhai.yar.DenH3383.Then all the menאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimH669gathered themselves togetherוַיִּצָּעֵ֞קvai.yi.tza.'EkH6817,and tookוַיִּלְכְּד֣וּvai.yil.ke.DuH3920the watersהַמַּ֔יִםha.Ma.yimH4325unto Beth–barahH1012and Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃hai.yar.DenH3383.

25And they tookוַֽיִּלְכְּד֡וּvai.yil.ke.DuH3920twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147princesשָׂרֵ֨יsa.ReiH8269of the Midianitesמִדְיָ֜ןmid.YanH4080,Orebעֹרֵ֣ב'o.RevH6159and Zeebזְאֵ֗בze.'EvH2062;and they slewוַיַּהַרְג֨וּvai.ya.har.GuH2026Orebעוֹרֵ֤בo.RevH6159upon the rockבְּצוּר־be.tzur-H6697Orebעוֹרֵב֙o.RevH6159,and Zeebזְאֵב֙ze.'EvH2062they slewהָרְג֣וּha.re.GuH2026at the winepressבְיֶֽקֶב־ve.ye.kev-H3342of Zeebזְאֵ֔בze.'EvH2062,and pursuedוַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּvai.yir.de.FuH7291Midianמִדְיָ֑ןmid.YanH4080,and broughtהֵבִ֙יאוּ֙he.Vi.'uH935the headsוְרֹאשׁ־ve.rosh-H7218of Orebעֹרֵ֣ב'o.RevH6159and Zeebוּזְאֵ֔בu.ze.'EvH2062to Gideonגִּדְע֔וֹןgid.'onH1439on the other sideמֵעֵ֖בֶרme.'E.verH5676Jordanלַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃lai.yar.DenH3383.

Commentaries on Judges 7