1 و َفَعَلَ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ الشَّرَّ أمامَ اللهِ. فَأسقَطَهُمُ اللهُ بِيَدِ المِدْيانِيِّينَ مُدَّةَ سَبْعِ سَنَواتٍ.

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

2 ف َقَوِيَ بَنُو مِدْيانَ عَلَى بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ. وَبِسَبَبِ المِدْيانِيِّينَ، اضْطُرَّ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ إلَى عَمَلِ مَخابِئَ لِأنفُسِهِمْ فِي الجِبالِ وَالكُهُوفِ وَالأماكِنِ المُنعَزِلَةِ.

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites the children of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.

3 و َكُلَّما زَرَعَ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ مَحاصِيلَ، كانَ بَنُو مِدْيانَ وَالعَمالِقَةُ وَالشَّرْقِيُّونَ يَصْعَدُونَ لِلهُجُومِ عَلَيهِمْ.

And it came to pass when Israel sowed, that Midian came up, and Amalek, and the children of the east, and came up against them.

4 ف َكانُوا يُخَيِّمُونَ عَلَى أرْضِ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ، وَيُدَمِّرُونَ المَحاصِيلَ إلَى غَزَّةَ. وَلَمْ يَكُونُوا يَترُكُونَ لَهُمْ ما يَعْتاشُونَ عَلَيهِ، لا غَنَماً وَلا بَقَراً وَلا حَمِيراً.

And they encamped against them, and destroyed the produce of the land, until thou come to Gazah, and they left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

5 أ تَوا بِأعدادٍ كَبِيرَةٍ كالجَرادِ، هُمْ وَعائِلاتُهُمْ وَمَوَاشيهُمْ وَحَتَّى خِيامُهُمْ. فَكانُوا هُمْ وَجِمالُهُمْ أكْثَرَ مِنَ أنْ يُحْصَونَ. فَيَدْخُلُونَ الأرْضَ وَيُخَرِّبُونَها.

For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number; and they entered into the land to destroy it.

6 ف َصارَ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ فُقَراءَ جِدّاً بِسَبَبِ مِدْيانَ، وَاسْتَنْجَدُوا بِاللهِ.

And Israel was greatly impoverished because of Midian. And the children of Israel cried to Jehovah.

7 و َعِنْدَما اسْتَنجَدَ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ بِاللهِ بِسَبَبِ مِدْيانَ،

And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried to Jehovah because of Midian,

8 أ رْسَلَ اللهُ لِبَنِي إسْرائِيلَ نَبِيّاً وَقالَ لَهُمِ: «هَذا هُوَ ما يَقُولُهُ اللهُ ، إلَهُ إسْرائِيلَ: ‹أنا أخرَجْتُكُمْ بِنَفسِي مِنْ مِصْرَ، وَأخرَجْتُكُمْ مِنْ ثَكَناتِ العَبِيدِ.

that Jehovah sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

9 أ نقَذْتُكُمْ مِنْ سَيطَرَةِ المِصْرِيِّينَ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ مُضْطَهِدِيكُمْ هُنا فِي الأرْضِ. طَرَدْتُهُمْ أمامَكُمْ، وَأعطَيتُكُمْ أرْضَهُمْ.

and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land,

10 و َقُلْتُ لَكُمْ: أنا إلَهُكُمْ ، لا تُكْرِمُوا آلِهَةَ الأمُورِيِّينَ الَّذِينَ تَسكُنُونَ بَينَهُمْ. لَكِنَّكُمْ لَمْ تُطِيعُونِي.›» مَلاكُ اللهِ يَزُورُ جِدْعُون

and I said to you, I am Jehovah your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened to my voice.

11 و َجاءَ مَلاكُ اللهِ ، وَجَلَسَ تَحْتَ البَلُّوطَةِ فِي عَفْرَةَ، الَّتِي كانَتْ مُلْكاً لِيُوآشَ الأبِيعَزَرِيِّ. وَكانَ ابْنُهُ جِدْعُونُ يَدْرُسُ القَمْحَ فِي مِعْصَرَةِ العِنَبِ لِكَي يُخْفيهِ عَنِ المِدْيانِيِّينَ.

And an angel of Jehovah came and sat under the terebinth that was in Ophrah, that to Joash the Abi-ezrite. And his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, to secure from the Midianites.

12 و َظَهَرَ مَلاكُ اللهِ لِجِدْعُونَ، وَقالَ لَهُ: « اللهُ مَعَكَ أيُّها المُحارِبُ القَدِيرُ.»

And the Angel of Jehovah appeared to him, and said to him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 ف َقالَ لَهُ جِدْعُونُ: «عَفْواً يا سَيِّدِي، لَكِنْ إنْ كانَ اللهُ مَعَنا، فَلِماذا حَدَثَ كُلُّ هَذا لَنا؟ وَأينَ كُلُّ أعمالِهِ القَدِيمَةِ الَّتِي أخبَرَنا عَنْها آباؤُنا وَقالُوا: ‹أخرَجَنا اللهُ مِنْ مِصْرَ!› فَها قَدْ تَرَكَنا اللهُ ، وَتَرَكَ المِدْيانِيِّينَ يَتَسَلَّطُونَ عَلَينا.»

And Gideon said to him, Ah my Lord, if Jehovah be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his miracles that our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? And now Jehovah hath cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.

14 ف َالْتَفَتَ إلَيهِ اللهُ وَقالَ: «اذْهَبْ بِقُوَّتِكَ هَذِهِ وَأنقِذْ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ مِنْ سَيطَرَةِ مِدْيانَ، وَها أنا أُرسِلُكَ.»

And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have not I sent thee?

15 ف َقالَ لَهُ جِدْعُونُ: «عَفواً يا رَبُّ، لَكِنْ كَيفَ لِي أنْ أُنْقِذَ إسْرائِيلَ؟ فَها عَشِيرَتِي هِيَ الأضْعَفُ فِي قَبِيلَةِ مَنَسَّى، وَأنا الأقَلُّ أهَمِّيَّةً فِي عائِلَتِي.»

And he said to him, Ah Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my thousand is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 ف َقالَ لَهُ اللهُ: «لَكِنِّي سَأكُونُ مَعَكَ، وَسَتَهْزِمُهُمْ كَما لَو أنَّهُمْ رَجُلٌ واحِدٌ!»

And Jehovah said to him, I will certainly be with thee; and thou shalt smite Midian as one man.

17 ف َقالَ لَهُ جِدْعُونُ: «إنْ كُنْتَ راضِياً عَنِّي، فَأعطِنِي عَلامَةً عَلَى أنَّكَ أنتَ الَّذِي تَتَكَلَّمُ مَعِي.

And he said to him, If now I have found favour in thine eyes, shew me a sign that it is thou who talkest with me.

18 و َلا تَذْهَبْ حَتَّى أعُودَ إلَيكَ وَمَعِي تَقْدِمَتِي، وَأضَعَها أمامَكَ.» فَقالَ: «سَأبقَى حَتَّى تَعُودَ.»

Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

19 ف َدَخَلَ جِدْعُونُ إلَى بَيتِهِ، وَأعَدَّ مِعْزَى صَغِيرَةً. وَخَبَزَ قُفَّةً مِنَ الطَّحِينِ بِلا خَمِيرٍ. وَوَضَعَ اللَّحمَ فِي سَلَّةٍ، وَالمَرَقَ فِي وِعاءٍ. ثُمَّ أحضَرَها إلَيهِ تَحْتَ البَلُّوطَةِ، وَقَدَّمَها لَهُ.

And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid of the goats, and an ephah of flour in unleavened cakes: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the terebinth, and presented it.

20 ف َقالَ لَهُ مَلاكُ اللهِ: «خُذِ اللَّحْمَ وَالخُبْزَ غَيرَ المُخْتَمِرِ، وَضَعْها عَلَى هَذِهِ الصَّخرَةِ، ثُمَّ ألقِ المَرَقَ بَعيداً.» فَفَعَلَ جَدْعُونُ كَما قالَ.

And the Angel of God said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 ف َمَدَّ مَلاكُ اللهِ طَرَفَ العَصا الَّتِي بِيَدِهِ، وَلَمَسَ اللَّحْمَ وَالخُبْزَ غَيرَ المُخْتَمِرِ، فَصَعِدَتْ نارٌ مِنَ الصَّخرَةِ وَالْتَهَمَتِ اللَّحْمَ وَالخُبْزَ. ثُمَّ اخْتَفَى مَلاكُ اللهِ.

And the Angel of Jehovah put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And the Angel of Jehovah departed out of his sight.

22 ف َأدْرَكَ جِدْعُونُ أنَّ الَّذِي ظَهَرَ لَهُ هُوَ مَلاكُ اللهِ ، فَقالَ جِدْعُونُ: «وَيلِي أيُّها الرَّبُّ الإلَهُ ، فَقَدْ رَأيتُ مَلاكَ اللهِ وَجْهاً لِوَجهٍ.»

And Gideon perceived that he was an angel of Jehovah; and Gideon said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! for because I have seen an angel of Jehovah face to face …

23 ث ُمَّ قالَ اللهُ: «سَلامٌ لَكَ. لا تَخَفْ. لَنْ تَمُوتَ.»

And Jehovah said to him, Peace be unto thee: fear not; thou shalt not die.

24 ف َبَنَى جِدْعُونُ هُناكَ مَذْبَحاً للهِ ، وَأسْماهُ: «يهوه سَلامٌ.» وَلَمْ يَزَلْ هَذا المَذْبَحُ فِي عَفْرَةَ الَّتِي تَخُصُّ الأبِيعَزَرِيِّينَ. جِدْعُونُ يَهدِمُ مَذْبَحَ البَعل

And Gideon built there an altar to Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-shalom. To this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

25 و َفِي تِلْكَ اللَّيلَةِ قالَ لَهُ اللهُ: «خُذْ ثَوْرَ أبِيكَ، أيِ الثَّوْرَ الثّانِي ذا السَّنَواتِ السَّبْعِ، وَاهدِمْ مَذْبَحَ البَعلِ الَّذِي يَخُصُّ أباكَ، وَاخلَعْ عَمُودَ عَشْتَرُوتَ الَّذِي بِجانِبِهِ.

And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said to him, Take the young bullock, which thy father hath, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;

26 ث ُمَّ ابْنِ مَذْبَحاً مُلائِماً لإلَهِكَ عَلَى قِمَّةِ هَذِا الجَبَلِ. وَخُذِ الثَّوْرَ الثّانِي وَقَدِّمْهُ ذَبيحَةً عَلَى خَشَبِ عَمُودِ عَشْتَرُوتَ.»

and build an altar to Jehovah thy God upon the top of this strong place in the ordered manner, and take the second bullock, and offer up a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah that thou shalt cut down.

27 ف َأخَذَ جِدْعُونُ رَجُلَينِ مِنْ بَينِ خُدّامِهِ وَفَعَلَ كَما أمَرَهُ اللهُ. لَكِنَّهُ كانَ خائِفاً جِدّاً مِنْ عائِلَتِهِ وَمِنْ أهلِ البَلْدَةِ، لِهَذا لَمْ يَفعَلْ هَذا الأمرَ نَهاراً بَلْ لَيلاً.

And Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had said to him. And it came to pass, because he feared his father's house, and the men of the city, if he did it by day, that he did it by night.

28 و َلَمّا اسْتَيقَظَ أهلُ البَلْدَةِ فِي الصَّباحِ التّالِي، دُهِشُوا إذْ رَأَوْا مَذْبَحَ البَعلِ مَهْدُوماً، وَعَمُودَ عَشْتَرُوتَ مَخلُوعاً وَمُلقَىً إلَى جانِبِهِ. وَدُهِشُوا أيضاً لِأنَّهُمْ رَأَوْا أنَّ الثَّورَ الثّانِي، قُدِّمَ عَلَى المَذْبَحِ الَّذِي بُنِيَ.

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered up upon the altar that was built.

29 ف َقالُوا أحَدُهُمْ لِلآخَرِ: «مَنْ هَدَمَ المَذبَحَ، وَمَنْ خَلَعَ عَمُودَ عَشتَرُوتَ؟» وَبَعْدَ البَحثِ وَالتَّقَصِّي قِيلَ لَهُمْ: «إنَّ جِدْعُونَ بْنَ يُوآشَ هُوَ الَّذِي فَعَلَ هَذا.»

And they said one to another, Who has done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.

30 ف َقالَ أهلُ البَلْدَةِ لِيُوآشَ: «أحْضِرِ ابْنَكَ لِكَي نَقتُلَهُ، لِأنَّهُ هَدَمَ مَذْبَحَ البَعلِ، وَقَطَعَ عَمُودَ عَشْتَرُوتَ.»

And the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.

31 ف َقالَ يُوآشُ لِكُلِّ الَّذِينَ أحاطُوا بِهِ: «ألَعَلَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أنْ تُدافِعُوا عَنِ البَعلِ؟ ألَعَلَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أنْ تُخَلِّصُوهُ؟ مَنْ يُدافِعُ عَنْهُ سَيُقْتَلُ قَبلَ الصَّباحِ. إنْ كانَ إلَهاً حَقّاً، فَلْيُدافِعْ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ، فَقَدْ هَدَمَ أحَدُهُمْ مَذْبَحَهُ.»

And Joash said to all that stood near him, Will ye contend for Baal? or will ye save him? he that contends for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning. If he be a god, let him plead for himself, because they have broken down his altar.

32 و َفِي ذَلِكَ اليَومِ سَمَّى يُوآشُ جِدْعَوْنَ «يَرُبَّعَلَ،» بِمَعْنَى: «لِيُواجِهْهُ البَعلُ إذاً، لِأنَّهُ هَدَمَ مَذْبَحَهُ.» جِدْعُونُ يَهْزِمُ المِدْيانِيِّين

And on that day they called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead with him, because he has broken down his altar.

33 و َاجتَمَعَ المِدْيانِيُّونَ وَالعَمالِقَةُ وَأهلُ الشَّرْقِ مَعاً. فَعَبَرُوا نَهْرَ الأُردُنِّ، وَخَيَّمُوا فِي وادِي يَزْرَعِيلَ.

And all Midian and Amalek and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.

34 ح ِينَئِذٍ، حَلَّ رُوحُ اللهِ عَلَى جِدْعُونَ، فَنَفَخَ البُوقَ، وَدَعا الأبِيعَزَرِيِّينَ لِيَتْبَعُوهُ.

And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon, and he blew the trumpet, and the Abi-ezrites were gathered after him.

35 و َأرسَلَ رُسُلاً عَبْرَ جَمِيعِ الأراضِي التّابِعَةِ لِمَنَسَّى، وَاسْتَدْعَى أيضاً قَبِيلَةَ مَنَسَّى، وَأرسَلَ رُسُلاً إلَى قَبائِلِ آشَرَ وَزَبُولُونَ وَنَفْتالِي، فَصَعِدُوا لِلِقائِهِ.

And he sent messengers throughout Manasseh, and they also were gathered after him; and he sent messengers to Asher, and to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

36 ف َقالَ جِدْعُونُ للهِ: «أصَحِيحٌ أنَّكَ تُرِيدُ أنْ تُنْقِذَ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ عَلَى يَدَيَّ كَما قُلْتَ؟

And Gideon said to God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said,

37 إ نْ كانَ الأمْرُ كَذَلِكَ، فَها أنا أضَعُ بَعْضَ الصُّوفِ عَلَى البَيدَرِ. فَإذا وَجَدْتُ نَدَىً عَلَى الصُّوفِ وَحدَهُ، وَالأرْضُ كُلُّها جافَّةً مِنْ حَولِهِ، حِينَئِذٍ، سَأتَيَقَّنُ أنَّكَ سَتُنْقِذُ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ عَلَى يَدَيَّ، كَما قُلْتَ.»

behold, I put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if dew shall be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said.

38 و َهَذا ما حَدَثَ. فَعِنْدَما أفاقَ فِي الصَّباحِ التّالِي، وَعَصَرَ الصُّوفَ، خَرَجَ مِنْهُ مِلءُ وِعاءِ مِنَ النَّدَى.

And it was so. And when he rose up early on the morrow, he pressed the fleece together, and wrung dew out of the fleece, a bowl-full of water.

39 ف َقالَ جِدْعُونُ للهِ: «لا يَشْتَعِلْ غَضَبُكَ مِنِّي إنْ طَلَبْتُ طَلَباً آخَرَ! أريدُ أنْ أمْتَحِنَ الأمْرَ ثانِيَةً بِالصُّوفِ. لِيَكُنِ الصُّوفُ جافّاً، وَالنَّدَى يُبَلِّلُ كُلَّ الأرْضِ مِنْ حَولِهِ.»

And Gideon said to God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once! Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it, I pray thee, be dry upon the fleece only, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

40 و َفِي تِلْكَ اللَّيلَةِ، فَعَلَ اللهُ ذَلِكَ. فَكانَ الصُّوفُ جافّاً، وَالنَّدَى عَلَى كُلِّ الأرْضِ مِنْ حَولِهِ.

And God did so that night, and it was dry upon the fleece only, but on all the ground there was dew.