7 Then Gid’on (also known as Yeruba’al) and the warriors with him got up early and went to Harod spring. The Midyanite camp was north of them in the valley below the Moreh hill.

2 Then Yahweh told Gid’on, “You’ve got too many warriors with you for me to give victory over the Midyanites, because what if Yisrael (Israel) takes the glory for themselves thinking that their own strength saved them. 3 So tell the men that anyone who’s afraid or trembling can leave Mt. Gilead and go back home.”[ref] Twenty-two thousand of them went back, leaving only ten thousand.

4 “That’s still too many,” Yahweh told Gid’on. “Bring them down to the spring and I’ll short-list them there. Anyone I tell you to go with you, can do so, but anyone that I say won’t go with you, won’t go.” 5 So he took them down to the water and Yahweh told him, “Separate out those who lap up the water with their tongues like a dog would, along with those who kneel down to drink.” 6 It turned out that only three hundred men used their hands to bring water to their mouths, and all the rest knelt down to drink the water. 7 “I’ll rescue you all from Midyan with the three hundred men who lapped the water from their hands,” Yahweh told Gid’on. “Let all the others go back to their homes.” 8 Then the three-hundred warriors collected the food and ram’s horns from the others before Gid’on sent the others back to their own homes.

The Midyan camp was below them down in the valley 9 and during the night Yahweh told Gid’on, “Get ready and lead them down into the camp, because I have made you victorious. 10 But if you’re afraid to attack, take your servant Purah down to their camp 11 and you’ll hear what they’re saying, then you’ll have the courage to go down and attack the camp.” So Gid’on and his servant Purah went quietly down to the unit at the edge of the camp.

12 The Midyanites and Amalekim and others from the east covered the valley like a swarm of locusts. Even their camels were as numerous as sand grains on the beach. 13 When Gid’on got close, a man was telling his companion about his dream. “Listen,” he said, “I had a dream and wow, a round loaf of barley bread was tumbling into our camp. It came as far as the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, and collapsed completely.”

14 “That could only be the sword of Yoash’s son Gid’on from Yisrael (Israel),” the other man replied. “The true God has caused Midyan and all of the camp to be defeated by him.”

15 When Gid’on heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he thanked God, then they returned to their camp and commanded, “Get ready to go because Yahweh has given you all victory over the Midyanite camp.” 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three units, and gave each of them rams’ horns and clay jars with burning torches inside them, 17 and instructed them, “Watch me and do what I do. See, when I get to the edge of their camp, do the same as me. 18 When I blow the ram’s horn trumpet, all of you with horns should blow them and everyone will shout, ‘For Yahweh and for Gid’on!’ ”

19 When Gid’on and the hundred men with him got to the edge of the camp, it was the beginning of the middle nightwatch and the fresh guards had just gotten into their places. Gid’on and his unit blew their trumpets and smashed the jars that they were carrying. 20 Then all three units blew the trumpets and smashed their jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands, and they shouted out, “A sword for Yahweh and for Gid’on.” 21 Then everyone stood in their place around the camp, but the Midyanite army cried out in alarm and took off. 22 When the three hundred ram’s horns sounded, Yahweh caused the Midyanite army to start fighting each other with their swords, and the army fled as far as Beyt-Hashitah (towards Tsererah) and towards the border of Avel-Meholah (towards Tabat).

23 Then the warriors from Naftali (Naphtali), Asher, and from all of Menasheh (Manasseh) were summoned to help with pursuing the Midyanites. 24 Gid’on also sent messengers through Efrayim’s (Ephraim’s) hill country to tell them, “Go down to the Yarden (Jordan) river opposite Midyan and take control of the crossings to capture them between as far as Beyt-Barah.” So all the men of Efrayim were summoned and they commandeered the Yarden crossings as far as Beyt-Barah. 25 They chased after the Midyanites and captured their two princes, Orev and Ze’ev. They killed Orev at the rock now called ‘Orev’s rock’, and they killed Ze’ev in a wine-pressing pit now called ‘Ze’ev’s wine-press’, and they brought their heads back across the Yarden to Gid’on.

8 But then the Efrati men challenged Gid’on, “Why have you side-tracked us? Why didn’t you call us when you went to battle against the Midyanites?” And they severely rebuked him.

2 “What have I achieved compared to you guys?” answered Gid’on. “Aren’t the seconds of Efrayim’s (Ephraim’s) grapes better than the whole grape harvest of Aviezer? 3 God helped you all defeat Orev and Ze’ev, the princes of Midyan.[ref] What did I do compared to that?” After he said that, they all calmed down again.

4 Then Gid’on and his three hundred warriors crossed the Yarden (Jordan) going east. They were all exhausted, but continued the pursuit. 5 When they arrived at the town of Sukot, Gid’on asked the leaders, “Please give my men some bread to eat because they’re exhausted, but we’re chasing Zevah and Tsalmuna, the Midyanite kings.”

6 However, the Sukot officials asked cautiously, “Do you already have Zevah and Tsalmuna in your grasp that we should give food to your army?”

7 “Let me assure you all,” Gid’on responded, “that when Yahweh has helped us capture Zevah and Tsalmuna, I will rip off your flesh with the wilderness thorns and briers.”

8 From there they climbed up to Penuel, and he asked them for food in a similar manner, and the leaders there responded similarly to the leaders of Sukot. 9 So he said to the men of Penuel as well, “When I return safely, I’ll tear down this tower.”

10 Now Zevah and Tsalmuna were in Karkor with around fifteen thousand warriors—all that remained out of all of that allied Midyanite camp of eastern people, because one hundred and twenty thousand of their warriors had already been killed. 11 Gid’on approached them unexpectedly via the caravan route east of Novah and Yagebehah, and struck their camp when they were feeling secure. 12 Zevah and Tsalmuna fled, but they chased after those two Midyanite kings and captured them, thus defeating their entire army.

13 The Gid’on (Yoash’s son) and his warriors returned from battle, going through the Heres pass. 14 He captured a young man from Sukot and questioned him—writing down the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Sukot. 15 Then he returned to Sukot and told them, “Look here at Zevah and Tsalmuna—the ones you taunted me about when you asked, ‘Do you already have Zevah and Tsalmuna in your grasp that we should give food to your weary men.’ ” 16 He took the city elders and had them punished with wilderness thorns and briers to teach them a lesson, 17 then they went to Penuel and tore down the tower and executed the city leaders.

18 Then Gid’on asked Zevah and Tsalmuna, “What were the men like that you killed at Tavor?”

“They were just like you,” they replied. “They seemed like they could have been a king’s sons.”

19 “They were my brothers—the sons of my mother,” he said. “As Yahweh lives, if only you had let them live, I wouldn’t have killed you.” 20 Then he ordered Yeter, his oldest son, “Go and kill them.” But Yeter didn’t pull out his sword because he was afraid—he was still a youth.

21 Then Zevah and Tsalmuna said, “Come and kill us yourself—be a man and use your own strength.” So Gid’on went over and killed Zevah and Tsalmuna, and then he took the crescent-shaped ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

22 Then a group of Israeli men said to Gid’on, “We want you and your sons and your future descendants to rule over us, because you have saved us from the Midyanites.”

23 But Gid’on answered, “No, I won’t rule over you myself, nor will my son rule over you. Yahweh will rule over you.” 24 However, he continued, “Let me ask you all for something: that each man give me the earrings from his spoil.” (The enemies had gold earrings because they were Yishmaelim (Ishmaelites).)

25 “We can certainly do that for you,” they replied. So they spread out a garment and each man threw the earrings from his spoil onto it. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings of gold came to twenty kilograms, and then there were the crescent-shaped ornaments, the pendants, the dyed purple garments that the Midyanite kings had been wearing, as well as the collars that had been around their camels’ necks. 27 Then Gid’on made the gold into an idol[fn] and placed it in his home city of Ofrah, and the Israelis prostituted themselves to it there, and so it became like a trap for Gid’on and his household.

28 So Midyan was kept under control by the Israelis and they didn’t continue to oppress the people, and there was peace in the region for forty years during Gid’on’s time.

29 Then Gid’on (Yoash’s son, also known as Yeruba’al) went back and lived in his house, 30 and he fathered seventy sons because he had many wives. 31 He also had a mistress in Shekem—she also bore him a son that he named Avimelek. 32 Gid’on died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Yoash his father, at Ofrah of the Abiezerites.

33 However after Gid’on had died, the Israelis turned away again from Yahweh and prostituted themselves to the Baals—making Ba’al-Berit for themselves as a god. 34 They forgot about their god Yahweh—the one who had rescued them from the clutch of all of their enemies all around. 35 They didn’t show lasting loyalty to Gid’on’s family, despite all the good that he’d done within Yisrael (Israel).

4 ⇔After Ehud died, the Israelis again started doing things considered evil by Yahweh, 2 so he handed them over to King Yavin of Kena’an (Canaan) who reigned in Hatsor. Sisera was the commander of his army, and he lived in Haroshet-Hagoyim. 3 The Israelis cried out to Yahweh because Sisera had nine hundred chariots with iron on them, and he cruelly oppressed them for twenty years.

4 Now the prophetess Deborah (Lapidot’s wife) was leading Yisrael (Israel) at that time. 5 She would sit under the palm tree between Ramah and Beyt-El (Bethel) (in the Efrati hill country), and people would come to her to have their disputes settled. 6 One day she summoned Barak (Avinoam’s son from Kedesh in Naftali (Naphtali)) and told him, “Yisrael’s god, Yahweh commands you to draft ten thousand men from Naftali and Zevulun and assemble at Mt. Tavor. 7 Yahweh will lure King Yavin’s army commander, Sisera bring his warriors and chariots to the Kishon river, and Yahweh will enable you to defeat them there.”

8 “I’ll go if you’ll come with me,” replied Barak, “but if you won’t come with me, I won’t go.”

9 “I’ll certainly go with you,” she said, “but it won’t be you that’s honoured afterwards, but rather Yahweh will use a woman to defeat Sisera.” So Deborah accompanied Barak to Kedesh. 10 There he summoned warriors from Zevulun and Naftali and ten thousand men came, and they all went together with Deborah to Mt. Tavor.

11 Now Hever had moved with his wife Ya’el and their family away from the other Keynim (and from Mosheh’s (Moses’) father-in-law Hovav’s descendants) and set up his tent by the oak tree at Tsa’ananim near Kedesh.

12 When Sisera was told that Barak (Avinoam’s son) had gone to Mt. Tavor, 13 he assembled his warriors and their nine hundred chariots (with iron on them) and went from Haroshet-Hagoyim to the Kishon riverbed.

14 “Get going,” Deborah told Barak, “because it’s today that Yahweh has gone ahead of you and will help you defeat Sisera.” So Barak led his ten thousand warriors down from Mt. Tavor. 15 Then Yahweh caused Sisera and all his warriors and chariots to be confused as Barak advanced, so Sisera jumped down from his chariot and took off on foot. 16 Barak pursued the men and chariots as far as Haroshet-Hagoyim and they killed them all—not a single one survived.

17 But Sisera had fled on foot and ran to Ya’el’s tent (Hever the Keyni’s wife) because there was peace between King Yavin of Hatsor and the house of Hever the Keyni. 18 Ya’el went out to meet Sisera and told him, “Stop and rest, my master. Stop and rest here. Don’t be afraid.” So he turned and went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

19 “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Could you get me a little water to drink.” Ya’el opened a goatskin container and gave him milk to drink, then she covered him again. 20 “Stand at the tent doorway,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you if you’ve seen a man, say, ‘No.’ ”

21 Then Hever’s wife Ya’el got a hammer and a tent peg and crept in silently, driving the peg through his temple and pounding it into the ground,. He’d been tired and was sleeping soundly, and it killed him. 22 Meanwhile Barak had been searching for Sisera, and Ya’el went out to meet him. “Come in here,” she told him, “and I’ll show you the man you’ve been searching for.” He followed her into the tent and wow—Sisera was lying there dead with the peg still through his temple.

23 So that day God defeated Kena’ani (Canaanite) King Yavin’s army in front of the Israelis, 24 and as they became stronger against him, they destroyed King Yavin of Kena’an (Canaan).

5 ⇔That day, Deborah and Barak sang this song:

2 “When the leaders take the lead in Yisrael (Israel),

when the people offer themselves willingly,

Yahweh be blessed.

3 Listen you kings.

≈ Pay attention you rulers.

I will sing to Yahweh, yes, even me.

≈ I will make music for Yisrael’s god Yahweh.

4 Yahweh, you left Se’ir.

≈ You marched out of the Edom region.

The earth quaked.

≈ The heavens also dropped.

And the clouds poured down rain.

5 Mountains melted in Yahweh’s presence,

Yes, Mt. Sinay shook in front of Yisrael’s god, Yahweh.[ref]

6 In the days of Anat’s son Shamgar,

≈ in the days of Ya’el,

main roads were abandoned,

≈ and travellers walked twisting trails.

7 Israeli villages were abandoned.

≈ No one lived there until I, Deborah, became their leader.

I became one of Yisrael’s (Israel’s) mothers.

8 When Yisrael chose new gods,

then enemies attacked the city gates.

No shield or spear could be found

among forty thousand in Yisrael.

9 I’m thankful to Yisrael’s commanders

who volunteered to help the people.

Yahweh be blessed.

10 You riders of white donkeys,

you who sit on saddle blankets,

you who are walking on the road,

tell about this.

11 From the sounds of conflict over the watering places

they recount ≈ Yahweh’s righteousness

and about his righteous warriors in Yisrael (Israel).

Then Yahweh’s people went down to the city gates.

12 Wake up, Deborah, wake up.

Wake up, wake up, sing a song.

Barak, get moving and capture your prisoners,

you son of Avinoam.

13 Then the survivor went down to the leading citizens.

Yahweh’s people went down to the mighty. ???

14 From Efrayim (Ephraim) their root was with Amalek.

After you, Benyamin, among your people.

From Makir (in Menasheh’s (Manasseh’s) tribe), the commanders came down.

And from Zevulun, those who march carrying an officer’s staff.

15 My princes in Yisakar (Issachar) were with Deborah.

And Yisakar was also with Barak.

He was sent into a valley on his heels.

There was intense heart searching among the clans of Re’uven.

16 Why did you sit between the sheep pens?

To hear the whistling for the flocks?

There was intense heart searching among the clans of Re’uven.

17 Gilead settled east of the Yarden (Jordan).

But, Dan, why does he stay on ships?

Asher stayed at the sea coast

≈ and lives by his jetties.

18 Zevulun were a tribe that devotedly risked losing their lives.

And Naftali (Naphtali) was at their heights on the battlefield.

19 Kings came and made war.

Then the Kena’ani (Canaanite) kings fought at Ta’anak,

at the Megidon springs.

But they weren’t able to plunder any silver.

20 From the sky, the stars battled.

From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

21 The Kishon river swept them away.

An ancient river that Kishon river.

March on with strength, my soul.

22 Then the horses’ hooves struck.

His galloping stallions charging.

23 ‘Curse that Meroz place,’ said Yahweh’s messenger.

‘You shall certainly curse its inhabitants

because they didn’t come and help Yahweh—

to help Yahweh against the mighty ones.’

24 Ya’el will be an honoured woman.

The wife of Hever the Keyni.

She deserves the most praise out of all women who live in tents.

25 He asked for water—she gave him milk,

Yogurt in a bowl suitable for the leading citizens.

26 Her hands reached out for the tent peg,

and her right hand for the workman’s hammer.

She hammered Sisera—shattering his head—

shattering and piercing his temple.

27 He bowed down between her feet—he fell—he lay down.

He bowed down between her feet—where he bowed down, there he fell—destroyed.

28 Sisera’s mother looked out the window.

She peered through the lattice, crying out,

‘Why is his chariot so slow to return?

Why are the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?’

29 Her wise ladies answered her.

Indeed, she keeps telling herself

30 ‘Won’t they be gathering and dividing the plunder?

A woman or two for each warrior to bear children.

Finding some colourful material for Sisera.

Taking some embroidered fabrics.

Dyed scarves as plunder.’

31 May all your enemies perish like that, Yahweh.

But may those who love you shine like the sun rising in its strength.”

Then that region had peace for forty years.