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Juĝistoj 8

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1 Kaj la Efraimidoj diris al li:Kial vi tion faris al ni, ke vi ne vokis nin, kiam vi iris batali kontraux Midjan? Kaj ili forte kverelis kun li.

2 Sed li diris al ili:Kion mi faris nun similan al via faro? cxu la postkolekto de Efraim ne estas pli bona ol la tuta vinberkolekto de Abiezer?

3 En viajn manojn Dio transdonis Orebon kaj Zeebon, la princojn de Midjan; kaj kiel mi povis fari en komparo kun tio, kion vi faris? Tiam kvietigxis ilia kolero kontraux li, kiam li diris tion.

4 Kaj Gideon venis al Jordan kaj transiris, li kaj la tricent homoj, kiuj estis kun li, lacaj kaj persekutantaj.

5 Kaj li diris al la logxantoj de Sukot:Donu, mi petas, panojn al la homoj, kiuj sekvas min; cxar ili estas lacaj, kaj mi postkuras Zebahxon kaj Calmunan, regxojn de Midjan.

6 Sed la estroj de Sukot diris:CXu la manoj de Zebahx kaj Calmuna estas jam en viaj manoj, ke ni donu al via militistaro panon?

7 Tiam Gideon diris:Pro tio, kiam la Eternulo transdonos Zebahxon kaj Calmunan en miajn manojn, mi drasxos viajn korpojn per dornoj de dezerto kaj per kardoj.

8 Kaj li iris de tie al Penuel, kaj diris al gxiaj logxantoj tion saman; kaj la logxantoj de Penuel respondis al li tiel, kiel respondis la logxantoj de Sukot.

9 Kaj li diris ankaux al la logxantoj de Penuel jene:Kiam mi revenos felicxe, mi detruos cxi tiun turon.

10 Kaj Zebahx kaj Calmuna estis en Karkor, kaj kun ili estis ilia militistaro, cxirkaux dek kvin mil, cxiuj, kiuj restis el la tuta militistaro de la orientanoj; la nombro de la falintoj estis cent dudek mil homoj, kiuj povis eltiri glavon.

11 Kaj Gideon iris laux la vojo de la tendologxantoj orienten de Nobahx kaj Jogbeha, kaj venkobatis la tendaron, kiam la tendaro opiniis sin tute eksterdangxera.

12 Kaj Zebahx kaj Calmuna forkuris; sed li postkuris ilin, kaj kaptis Zebahxon kaj Calmunan, la du regxojn de Midjan, kaj la tutan militistaron li ektremigis.

13 Kaj revenis Gideon, filo de Joasx, de la milito, de la deklivo de HXeres.

14 Kaj li kaptis junulon el la logxantoj de Sukot, kaj demandis lin; kaj tiu skribis al li la estrojn de Sukot kaj gxiajn plejagxulojn, sepdek sep homojn.

15 Kaj li venis al la logxantoj de Sukot, kaj diris:Jen estas Zebahx kaj Calmuna, pri kiuj vi mokis min, dirante:CXu la manoj de Zebahx kaj Calmuna estas jam en viaj manoj, ke ni donu al viaj lacaj homoj panon?

16 Kaj li prenis la plejagxulojn de la urbo, kaj la dornojn de dezerto kaj la kardojn, kaj punis per ili la logxantojn de Sukot.

17 Kaj la turon de Penuel li detruis, kaj mortigis la logxantojn de la urbo.

18 Kaj li diris al Zebahx kaj Calmuna:Kiaj estis la homoj, kiujn vi mortigis cxe Tabor? Kaj ili diris:Ili estis tiaj, kiel vi, cxiuj aspektis kiel regxidoj.

19 Tiam li diris:Tio estis miaj fratoj, filoj de mia patrino. Per la vivo de la Eternulo, se vi restigus ilin vivaj, mi ne mortigus vin.

20 Kaj li diris al sia unuenaskito Jeter:Levigxu, mortigu ilin. Sed la junulo ne eltiris sian glavon; cxar li timis, cxar li estis ankoraux juna.

21 Kaj Zebahx kaj Calmuna diris:Levigxu mem kaj frapu nin, cxar kia estas la viro, tia estas lia forto. Tiam Gideon levigxis kaj mortigis Zebahxon kaj Calmunan, kaj li prenis la ornamajxojn, kiuj estis sur la koloj de iliaj kameloj.

22 Kaj la Izraelidoj diris al Gideon:Regu nin, vi kaj via filo kaj la filo de via filo; cxar vi savis nin el la manoj de Midjan.

23 Sed Gideon diris al ili:Mi ne regos vin, kaj ankaux mia filo ne regos vin:la Eternulo regu vin.

24 Kaj Gideon diris al ili:Mi petas de vi peton, cxiu el vi donu al mi la orelringon el sia militakiro. Ili havis orajn orelringojn, cxar estis afero kun Isxmaelidoj.

25 Kaj ili diris:Ni donos. Kaj ili sternis veston, kaj cxiu jxetis tien orelringon el sia militakiro.

26 Kaj la pezo de la oraj orelringoj, kiujn li elpetis, estis mil sepcent sikloj da oro, krom la ornamajxoj kaj la ringoj kaj la purpuraj vestoj, kiuj estis sur la regxoj de Midjan, kaj krom la kolornamajxoj, kiuj estis sur la koloj de iliaj kameloj.

27 Kaj Gideon faris el tio efodon, kaj lokmetis gxin en sia urbo, en Ofra; kaj cxiuj Izraelidoj malcxastigxis per gxi tie; kaj tio farigxis falilo por Gideon kaj por lia domo.

28 Kaj humiligxis la Midjanidoj antaux la Izraelidoj kaj ne levis plu sian kapon. Kaj la lando ripozis dum kvardek jaroj en la tempo de Gideon.

29 Kaj Jerubaal, filo de Joasx, iris kaj eklogxis en sia domo.

30 Kaj Gideon havis sepdek filojn, kiuj eliris el liaj lumboj, cxar li havis multe da edzinoj.

31 Kaj lia kromvirino, kiu estis en SXehxem, ankaux naskis al li filon, kaj li donis al li la nomon Abimelehx.

32 Kaj Gideon, filo de Joasx, mortis en tre maljuna ago; kaj oni enterigis lin en la tombo de Joasx, lia patro, en Ofra de la Abiezridoj.

33 Kiam Gideon mortis, la Izraelidoj denove malcxaste sekvis la Baalojn kaj elektis al si Baal-Beriton kiel sian dion.

34 Kaj la Izraelidoj ne memoris la Eternulon, sian Dion, kiu savadis ilin el la manoj de cxiuj iliaj malamikoj cxirkauxe.

35 Kaj ili ne estis favorkoraj al la domo de Jerubaal-Gideon rekompence al la tuta bono, kiun li faris al Izrael.

   

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Exploring the Meaning of Judges 8

Napsal(a) New Christian Bible Study Staff, Julian Duckworth

Judges 8: Gideon subdues the Midianites.

In this chapter, Gideon continued to dismantle Midian’s oppression over Israel, facing opposition from some of his fellow Israelites in the process. First, the men of Ephraim complained that he did not call them to war. Gideon replied by praising them for their vineyards, and for capturing the two Midianite princes. So, Ephraim’s indignation subsided.

Then Gideon went to the city of Succoth, and asked for bread to feed his army. But the men of Succoth refused, instead taunting him because he had not yet captured the kings of Midian. Gideon told them them he would punish them with thorns and briars, after he had killed the two kings. The people of Penuel were equally dismissive when Gideon asked them for help, and he swore to tear down their tower.

In due course, Gideon captured the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. Gideon told his oldest son to kill them, but he was young, and too afraid to do it. So Gideon killed the two kings, and punished the people of Succoth and Penuel.

When he returned from battle, the people of Israel asked Gideon to rule over them. However, he refused, saying that the Lord would rule Israel. He then collected gold from people’s earrings, used it to make an ephod (a priest’s garment), and set it up in his own city, Ophrah. The people began to worship it, and it became a snare for Gideon.

And Israel had peace for forty years under Gideon. Gideon had seventy sons, and died at an old age. As soon as he passed away, the Israelites forgot all the goodness that the Lord had shown them, and turned to worship other gods.

*****

The message of Gideon’s exchange with the Ephraimites is that sincerity and openness are the most powerful response to confrontation. Gideon, led by his trust in the Lord, could see the reason for Ephraim’s outburst, so he dealt with it by praising their strengths. This encounter shows how our faith in the Lord gives us a broader perspective, granting us the ability to respond rather than react (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 8159[3]).

When Gideon lashes out at the people of Succoth and Penuel, it may appear that he is acting purely from anger, and a wish to retaliate. In reality, he is filled with zeal to drive out the Midianites and free Israel. It is unthinkable to him that his own people would refuse to give his soldiers food. In our own lives, we can at times be astounded by our own resistance to serving the Lord’s purpose. We are constantly torn between two forces: heaven and hell (Arcana Caelestia 3839[3]).

The killing of the two Midianite kings reflects the need for justice in spiritual matters. If we fail to heed the truths we know and believe, we will suffer the consequences of fear and guilt. These are not inflicted by the Lord, but follow on from our own choices (Arcana Caelestia 2447). Gideon’s son’s inability to kill the kings means that behind spiritual justice, there must be an understanding of the essential value of all life (Arcana Caelestia 5826[2]).

Gideon’s ephod is a symbol showing how easily we can deviate from obeying the Lord. The text does not tell us the reason for Gideon’s actions, but perhaps he felt it was better for the people to worship something superficially related to worshiping the Lord, rather than following a foreign god. Seeing a priest’s garment reminds us that a priest serves the Lord. But we can so easily focus on the majesty of the ephod itself, and think no more about the priest’s duty nor about the Lord. We sometimes drift further from the Lord without even realizing it (see Swedenborg’s work, Divine Providence 327).

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Judges 8

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1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?

3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.

8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.

12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.

15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?

16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.

19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.

34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:

35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.