{"id":55196,"date":"2018-07-09T17:42:41","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-217\/"},"modified":"2022-12-05T10:24:01","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T08:24:01","slug":"wall-217","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-217\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Judges-6"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"217","date":"20260629","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","books_group":"Prophets","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"posts":[{"order":1,"id":"54881","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Judges Chapter 6 - Read by Jonathan Roumie ","post_title":"Judges Chapter 6 - Read by Jonathan Roumie","slug":"judges-chapter-6-read-by-jonathan-roumie","old_id":"54881","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"217","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Judges 6","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"read by Jonathan Roumie","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_Judges_Chapter_6_read_by_Jonathan_Roumie","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","date":"20260629","wall_id":"217"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"109644","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Gideon Says I Dew - Dew You? ","post_title":"Gideon Says I Dew - Dew You?","slug":"gideon-says-i-dew-dew-you","old_id":"109644","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"217","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Diametrically opposite miracles\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

After the events of Judges 5, the Israelites became adherents of Ba\u2019al (see e.g., verse 25) and as a result, were persecuted chiefly by the Midianites.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To help the Israelites rebel against Midian, God chooses Gideon as the Jews\u2019 redeemer. But like Moses before him, Gideon is very circumspect regarding accepting God\u2019s appointment, and proceeds to request a series of miracles. See verses 21, the taking of the sacrifice with divine fire, and 37 and 39, the miraculous examples of the dew - first wetting only a wool cloth, and then wetting everything but the cloth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While the number of miracles, three, sought by Gideon, parallels the wonders which God initially gave to Moses (Ex. 4:2-9), the last two wonders mentioned in Judges 6 are remarkable in that they are diametric opposites of one another.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim, <\/span>in his commentary on v. 36, states that rather than Gideon attempting to prove that God was capable of saving the Jews, both of these latter miracles actually constituted two sides of the same coin, and were intended to clarify: a) did the Jews, who mostly continued to engage in idolatry, deserve to be saved? And b) was he, Gideon, deemed sufficiently righteous to deserve God helping him save the Jews?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim proceeds to draw upon his naturalist expertise to understand what Gideon was suggesting by the Divine signs he requested:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Initially, he thought that dew would remain longer on the land, based upon its tendency to remain damp for a longer time (<\/span>with the fleece following suit<\/span><\/em>). But then he thought to reverse the situation, since one could say that the fleece due to its \u201csoftness and absorbing tendencies\u201d would draw the dew to it exceedingly\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For this reason, the soaking of the fleece was to demonstrate the \u201clasting quality\u201d of the dew, since it was the natural thing for the fleece to absorb liquid. But then he said: Let the fleece be as dry as it was before dew fell upon it, and nothing should be absorbed by it over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Although in the end, Malbim does view dew as symbolizing God\u2019s beneficence, the fleece representing Gideon, and the surroundings standing for the Jewish people, the commentator stresses the natural and supernatural characteristics of these substances and thereby makes these signs far more accessible to the modern reader.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Blessed with a wonderful family and community, she lives in scenic Mizpe Netofa and works with Aliya and Torah initiatives. Currently, she is editing the Voices Israel Poetry Anthology. ","short_description":"Dina Jehuda is a NY- born English teacher in Kinneret College.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":55060,"alt":"","title":"dina jehuda","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda.jpg","width":267,"height":315,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda.jpg","medium_large-width":267,"medium_large-height":315,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda.jpg","large-width":267,"large-height":315,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda.jpg","1536x1536-width":267,"1536x1536-height":315,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda.jpg","2048x2048-width":267,"2048x2048-height":315,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda.jpg","post_full_size-width":267,"post_full_size-height":315,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/dina-jehuda.jpg","home_baner-width":267,"home_baner-height":315}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"217","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Do not stand and wait \/ Go with that strength \/ and save your people \/ for I have sent you\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\u201c they also serve who only stand and wait \u201c John Milton<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

When the Redeemer spoke to Moses<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>of future glory and salvation<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>he was not consoled<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>for Moses heard the moaning<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>of the babies drowning in the Nile.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yes, Moses knew his people<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>would cross the sea, triumphant<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>with timbrels and song one day<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>but do You care, he cried,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>about the children<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>crushed beneath the stones?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When the angel said to Gideon<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>God is with you<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Gideon replied, in sorrow and despair:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>if God is with us,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>why has He not helped us?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God answered him<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>casting aside angels and omens<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>for He speaks to his\u00a0 true servants<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>heart to heart<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>in human words<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Do not stand and wait<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Go with that strength<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and save your people<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>for I have sent you.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":68900,"alt":"","title":"is66-hourglass","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass.jpg","width":1920,"height":1271,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-768x508.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":508,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-1024x678.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":678,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1017,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1271,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-1200x794.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":794,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-634x420.jpg","home_baner-width":634,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Waiting for Messiah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Do not stand and wait \/ Go with that strength \/ and save your people \/ for I have sent you","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":68900,"alt":"","title":"is66-hourglass","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass.jpg","width":1920,"height":1271,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-768x508.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":508,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-1024x678.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":678,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1017,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1271,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-1200x794.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":794,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is66-hourglass-634x420.jpg","home_baner-width":634,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","date":"20260629","wall_id":"217"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"500","name":"Messiah","old_id":"900"}]},{"order":4,"id":"109642","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Gideon Tests God ","post_title":"Gideon Tests God","slug":"gideon-tests-god","old_id":"109642","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"217","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 6 begins with a messenger (or angel) of God again coming to the people and telling them that God took the people out of Egypt and so they should follow him and stop worshiping idols. When the angel (or messenger) comes to Gideon to appoint him as judge, Gideon has an amazing response.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

'If God is with us, why do all of these bad things happen? Where are all the wonders we keep hearing about from our fathers saying did not God bring us up from Egypt?' (verse 13).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gideon\u2019s response is a direct retort to the angel of God at the start of the chapter. How long should the Israelites in the land be beholden to the stories of the past when the present seems so different? It is also a stark reminder that there is no one left in the land that was alive to witness the great miracles of the past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gideon then responds in a way that is reminiscent of Moses\u2019 response to God- how can I be your servant to save the people? I am not worthy! Gideon asks for three miracles in this chapter, each one a test to see if God is with him. The first comes in the beginning when the angel tells Gideon to set out a sacrifice- complete with liquids- onto a rock. The angel then touches the sacrifice and a fire appears, burning the sacrifice and the angel disappears into the flame. There will be a similar scene later in Kings II when Elijah tests the priests of Baal. But this test with fire is also reminiscent of the first time Moses encountered God at the burning bush. A flame appears out of nowhere. Here, though, the fire consumes everything as opposed to nothing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The next two tests come at the end of the chapter. Gideon asks that one morning dew fall only on a piece of wool and the next that the dew fall everywhere except the wool. This second test could also be a test of the stories told of the Exodus. During the plagues, God would make sure that the plagues only harmed the Egyptians. The Israelites who lived closeby, were left unharmed. Similarly, the two tests here show that God is able to single out one thing from everything around it. Through these three tests, God is responding to Gideon\u2019s challenge of the lost stories of the miracles of the exodus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56420,"alt":"","title":"jud19-three","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Gideon Tests God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56420,"alt":"","title":"jud19-three","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","date":"20260629","wall_id":"217"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"471","name":"Miracle","old_id":"871"},{"term_id":"609","name":"Test","old_id":"1009"}]},{"order":5,"id":"55307","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Leading From Below: Gideon, The Poorest Of The Poor ","post_title":"Leading From Below: Gideon, The Poorest Of The Poor","slug":"leading-from-below-gideon-the-poorest-of-the-poor","old_id":"55307","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54871,"post_title":"Hannah Vorchheimer","slug":"hannah-vorchheimer","old_id":"54871","first_name":"Hannah ","last_name":"Vorchheimer ","description":"Hannah Vorchheimer is a senior at SAR High School. 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During the Midianite oppression of the nation, God hears the people\u2019s cries and decides to pick a savior. He selects Gideon as the next Judge to lead the people to victory. However, instead of accepting, Gideon answers \"how can I deliver Israel? Why, my clan is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father\u2019s household.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\n

While questioning God\u2019s appointment is shocking, this is not a first time occurrence. In fact, this is a popular biblical paradigm, that appears in two other stories of Biblical leaders: Moses and Jeremiah. When God appointed Moses to be the leader during the exodus and through the desert, he responds \u201cI have never been a man of words\u201d (Exodus 4). \u00a0Similarly, God appears to Jeremiah to consecrate him but Jeremiah responds, \u201cAh, Lord GOD! I don\u2019t know how to speak\u201d (Jeremiah 1). Both of these prophets worry about their personal capabilities, specifically their talents as orators which would deem them capable (or incapable) of their job. However Gideon\u2019s reasoning differs from the two other leaders. He is not at all concerned with his own skills, but how his family is perceived in relation to the rest of his tribe: \u201cmy clan is the poorest in Manasseh\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While declining God\u2019s choice isn\u2019t a novel concept, Gideon\u2019s reasoning is shocking. \u00a0Even though Gideon was chosen by God and nowhere in this chapter does the Bible say Gideon was unqualified for the position, he deems himself unworthy and incapable. In the eyes of the nation, he cannot be fit serve because of his family\u2019s status. Unlike the two previous prophets who are concerned about speech, something remediable, Gideon worries about his own status, which is permanent. By focusing on an unmodifiable characteristic (not a talent), Gideon seems to express that being a qualified leader is inherently connected to status rather than aptitude for the job. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet, when God chooses a leader, status is of no consequence. This is best demonstrated when God appoints David, the youngest son of a humble family, as the next king over Israel. Even though he isn\u2019t \u201chigh status\u201d, he becomes the most important king, as the Messiah descends from his line. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

As a society, we should work towards considering leaders\u2019 qualifications, not status. Like David and Gideon, great leaders can indeed come from the humblest of backgrounds.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Gideon, by\u00a0Guillaume Rouille (1518?-1589)<\/span>\u00a0-\u00a0\"Promptuarii Iconum 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34246,"alt":"","title":"RSDanziger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","width":1171,"height":1769,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":678,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","large-width":678,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","1536x1536-width":1017,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","2048x2048-width":1171,"2048x2048-height":1769,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-794x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"217","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Circumstances change, but the humility of a true leader perseveres","post_main_content_content":"

When Rabbi Yehoshua was forced to submit to the authority of Rabban Gamliel\u2019s Yavneh court, tells the Gemara, his friends tried to comfort him. One of them, Rabbi Dosa Ben Horkinas, argued that Rabban Gamliel\u2019s court --- indeed, any court within its own generation --- had the same legal status as the court of Moses. \u201cJerubaal (Gideon) in his generation,\u201d continues the Gemara, \u201cis like Moses in his generation,<\/span> Bedan (Samson) in his generation is like Aaron in his generation; and Jephthah in his generation is like Samuel in his generation.\u201d (Talmud Bavli, Rosh Hashana, 25B)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud moves on with Rabbi Yehoshua\u2019s story, leaving these intriguing comparisons behind. Yet Judges 6 practically begs us to explore the Moses-Gideon pairing further. Both begin their initiation into leadership by encountering an angel of God. Both are then addressed by God Himself. Both are told that He will \u201csend\u201d (using the root sh.l.ch<\/em>) them to deliver His people. \u201cWho am I, that I should go to Pharaoh,\u201d(Exodus 3:11) exclaims Moses, and Gideon echoes this humility with \u201cPlease, my lord, how can I deliver Israel? Why, my clan is the humblest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father\u2019s household\u201d (Judges 6:15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God reassures both Moses and Gideon with the exact same words: \u201cI will be with you.\u201d (Exodus 3:12 and Judges 6:16).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At this point the stories diverge, since God offers only Moses a sign (<\/span>ot<\/span><\/em> in Hebrew) \u201c that I have sent you\u201d (Exodus 3:12). But Gideon doesn\u2019t allow this divergence to stand: \u201cAnd he said to Him, \u201cIf I have gained Your favor, give me a sign that it is You who are speaking to me\u201d (Judges 6:17).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Interestingly, the <\/span>settings<\/span><\/em> of these conversations stand in opposition to each other. Moses finds refuge in Midian, the very place that oppresses the Israelites in Gideon\u2019s day. Moses is engaged in his occupation as a shepherd when God approached him, and is sent to deliver his people (who were presented as shepherds in Genesis) from the agrarian Egyptians; Gideon is approached while he is engaged with his occupation as a farmer, and is sent to deliver his agrarian people from the Midianites <\/span>and their flocks<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps by framing these similar missions within opposing circumstances, the Bible reveals to us what leadership is at its core. The external circumstances of our crises come and go and change. Midianites can be our protectors --- or our enemies. Shepherds, like farmers, can be our saviors --- or foes. But leaders should always have humility; then God might be with them and lend them aid.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Aelbrecht Bouts: Two wings of an altarpiece (Moses and the Burning Bush & Gideon and the Fleece), 1490 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":55311,"alt":"","title":"jud6-moses and 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Found at the site of Ras Shamra, ancient Ugarit, this statue of the Canaanite\/Phoenician god Baal shows the god in a smiting pose. The statue, which dates to the 14<\/span>th<\/span> or 13<\/span>th<\/span> century BCE, is made of cast bronze and was overlaid with gold (the overlay now remains only on his head). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Judges 6, Gideon destroys the altar of Baal to prevent townspeople from worshiping the storm god.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":55292,"alt":"","title":"jud6--blumenthal","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","width":774,"height":1190,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-195x300.jpg","medium-width":195,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-666x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":666,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-666x1024.jpg","large-width":666,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","1536x1536-width":774,"1536x1536-height":1190,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","2048x2048-width":774,"2048x2048-height":1190,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","post_full_size-width":774,"post_full_size-height":1190,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-273x420.jpg","home_baner-width":273,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Ba'al","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"From the collection of George Blumenthal","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":55292,"alt":"","title":"jud6--blumenthal","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","width":774,"height":1190,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-195x300.jpg","medium-width":195,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-666x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":666,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-666x1024.jpg","large-width":666,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","1536x1536-width":774,"1536x1536-height":1190,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","2048x2048-width":774,"2048x2048-height":1190,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal.jpg","post_full_size-width":774,"post_full_size-height":1190,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud6-blumenthal-273x420.jpg","home_baner-width":273,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","date":"20260629","wall_id":"217"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"429","name":"Idolatry","old_id":"829"},{"term_id":"555","name":"Archaeology","old_id":"955"}]},{"order":9,"id":"55316","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Who was the \u201cNavi Man\u201d? ","post_title":"Who Was The \u201cNavi Man\u201d?","slug":"who-was-the-navi-man","old_id":"55316","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"217","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An old priest comes to boost the people\u2019s spirits","post_main_content_content":"

In our chapter, the Israelites betray God (once again) and are delivered into the hands of the Midianites\u2014along with assorted other desert tribes including Amalek, who raid them so incessantly and thoroughly that they are compared to the devastation caused by locusts (v.5). Adhering to the sequence forecast in chapter two (see our comments there), they cry out to God and a savior <\/span>shofet<\/span><\/em> appears in the person of Gideon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Let us investigate one step in this process that is detailed in v. 8:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Lord sent a prophet-man unto the children of Israel and he said unto them, \u201cThus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt and brought you forth out of the house of bondage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The commentators are unanimous in identifying this \u201cprophet-man\u201d (<\/span>ish navi<\/span><\/i>) with Phineas son of Aaron, the High Priest (see Rashi, Kara, Kimhi, inter alia). On the one hand, Phineas is named as an active leader of the people late in Joshua\u2019s career (see Joshua 22:13 ff.) and there is no subsequent report of his death,* so he could, quite logically, have been the one to respond to the people here. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

On the other hand, however, where was he in the interim? As Ralbag (Gersonides, 1288-1344) questioned:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One might well ask, if this prophet was present, why did he not rebuke Israel throughout his life? Why did they have to call on Deborah? To resolve this quandary, it appears that his prophecy was intermittent and was inadequate for the task of leading the people, for which reason, also, he had to appoint Gideon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Since prophecy requires divine inspiration (see our comments to Judges 4), it was not Phineas\u2019s choice to seize or relinquish the initiative in these matters, but God\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

* Jewish legendary tradition declared Phineas to have defied death, even identifying him with the later prophet Elijah who, likewise, never died, as anyone knows who pours him a beaker of wine at the Passover Seder. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":62369,"alt":"","title":"1kings13-prophet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet.jpg","width":1200,"height":627,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-300x157.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":157,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-768x401.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":401,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-1024x535.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":535,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":627,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":627,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-1200x627.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":627,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-804x420.jpg","home_baner-width":804,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Who Was The \u201cNavi Man\u201d?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An old priest comes to boost the people\u2019s spirits","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":62369,"alt":"","title":"1kings13-prophet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet.jpg","width":1200,"height":627,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-300x157.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":157,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-768x401.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":401,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-1024x535.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":535,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":627,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":627,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-1200x627.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":627,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings13-prophet-804x420.jpg","home_baner-width":804,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","date":"20260629","wall_id":"217"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"390","name":"Prophets","old_id":"790"},{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"}]},{"order":10,"id":"55286","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Gideon, The Original Hacker ","post_title":"Gideon, The Original Hacker","slug":"gideon-the-original-hacker","old_id":"55286","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"217","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Also known as Jerubaal - and what does that mean?","post_main_content_content":"

6:11 \u201cAnd the LORD\u2019s messenger came and sat under the terebinth that is in Ophrah, which belongs to Joash the Abiezerite, and Gideon his son was threshing wheat in the winepress to conceal it from Midian.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The name transparently derives from the verbal stem g-d-\u2019, which means \u201cto hack down.\u201d Since the name appears to be a consequence of his first act in the story, one might guess that his original name was actually the pagan name Jerubaal, which would mean \u201cBaal contends [for his loyal worshippers],\u201d and not, as verse 32 suggests, \u201cLet Baal contend for himself,\u201d or perhaps, referring to Gideon, \u201che contends with Baal.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"Gideon, The Original Hacker","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Also known as Jerubaal - and what does that mean?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","date":"20260629","wall_id":"217"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"109639","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-Ju6","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-Ju6","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-ju6","old_id":"109639","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. 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As he is threshing in secret, hiding in a wine press from the thieving Midianites, young Gideon beholds an angel of God. \u201cThe Lord is with you, valiant warrior!\u201d cries the angel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gideon responds skeptically and readily: \u201cIf the Lord is with us, why has all this befallen us?\u201d He has heard tales of miracles, yet all he feels is God's abandonment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gideon\u2019s skepticism does not deter the angel, who tells him, \u201cGo in this strength of yours and deliver Israel from the Midianites.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What strength does the angel mean? What does he see in young Gideon? Perhaps it is physical strength, for threshing in a confined and airless space requires tremendous exertion. Perhaps it is strength of personality, for Gideon clearly thinks and speaks for himself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Or perhaps what the angel saw in Gideon was a strength of faith. Gideon does not reject God, as his forefathers have done. Somehow Gideon wants to believe, despite all experience to the contrary. His condition is certainly unenviable\u2014hard labor inside a literal symbol of oppression, eking out sustenance where once they produced luxuries like wine. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet Gideon\u2019s doubts about the goodness and power of God have never convinced him that God is not present. He may question his own fitness to lead, but he faithfully carries out what his conscience and the voice of God tell him he must do. His conviction rallies tens of thousands to his cause. Gideon\u2019s strength is his faith, the belief that through perseverance his world will get better.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

May we all draw upon the strength of Gideon, and keep going carrying our heaviest doubts and fears. May we work in secret when we must, and alongside legions when we can, faithfully doing the hard work of what is right.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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\u201cMitzvot of the Mouth: Blessings\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Mishael Zion: Texts on the importance of speech.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cA Jealous G-d: What's wrong with idolatry?\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Valerie Janovic: Explore possible reasons for the prohibition on foreign worship.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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    \r\n\t
  1. A judge with attitude<\/span><\/i>. Gideon\u2019s answer to the somewhat formulaic greeting of the angel \u201cThe LORD is with you, valiant warrior!\u201d reveals that he\u2019s got a mind of his own and is not afraid to speak it (see verse 13).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Does this remind you of anyone?<\/span><\/i> Gideon\u2019s call is very reminiscent of Moses\u2019 to the job (Exodus 3-4, about 164 chapters ago\u2026). The refusal, the humility, the reassurance \u201cI will be with you\u201d (verse 16), and the signs and portents.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Surprise parental backing<\/em>. Gideon doesn\u2019t just destroy any old altar, he destroys the altar his father Yoash built (verse 25). But Yoash not only defends him against those who want him punished, he also gives him theological support: \u201cBut Joash said to all who had risen against him, \u2018Do you have to contend for Baal? \u2026If he is a god, let him fight his own battles, since it is his altar that has been torn down!\u2019\u201d (verse 31).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Two new names are given<\/span><\/i>. The altar receives a name of peace \u00a0- Adonaishalom, <\/span>God is Peace<\/span><\/i> (verse 24) - and Gideon a name of war: \u201cThat day they named him Jerubbaal, meaning \u2018Let Baal contend with him, since he tore down his altar\u2019\u201d (verse 32).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. The doubts never quite disappear.<\/span><\/i> You can find them in Gideon\u2019s actions all throughout the chapter. Do the reassurances that he receives this chapter give him the strength to become the savior? Stay with us till the next chapter to find out.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Judges 6","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"217","date":"20260629","wall_id":"217"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/55196"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}