God

Thus God on that day defeated Yavin the king of Kena'an in the presence of the people of Isra'el.

"When leaders in Isra'el dedicate themselves, and the people volunteer, you should all bless ADONAI.

Hear, kings; listen, princes; I will sing to ADONAI! I will sing praise to ADONAI the God of Isra'el.

"ADONAI, when you went out from Se'ir, when you marched out from the field of Edom; the earth quaked, and the sky shook; yes, the clouds poured down torrents.

The mountains melted at the presence of ADONAI, at Sinai, before ADONAI the God of Isra'el.

My heart goes out to Isra'el's leaders and to those among the people who volunteer. All of you, bless ADONAI.

Louder than the sound of archers at the watering-holes will they sound as they retell the righteous acts of ADONAI, the righteous acts of his rulers in Isra'el. "Then ADONAI's people marched down to the gates.

"Then a remnant of the nobles marched down; the people of ADONAI marched down to me like warriors.

"'Curse Meroz!' said the angel of ADONAI, 'Curse the people living there with a bitter punishment for not coming to help ADONAI, to help ADONAI against the mighty warriors.'

"May all your enemies perish like this, ADONAI; but may those who love him be like the sun going forth in its glory!" Then the land had rest for forty years.

But the people of Isra'el did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, so ADONAI handed them over to Midyan for seven years.

Isra'el became very discouraged because of Midyan, and the people of Isra'el cried out to ADONAI.

When the people of Isra'el cried out to ADONAI because of Midyan,

ADONAI sent a prophet to the people of Isra'el, who said to them: "ADONAI the God of Isra'el says, 'I brought you up from Egypt, out of a life of slavery.

I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all your oppressors. I drove them out ahead of you and gave you their land.

And I said to you: "I am ADONAI your God; you are not to be afraid of the gods of the Emori in whose land you are living." But you paid no attention to what I said!'"

Then the angel of ADONAI came and sat under the pistachio tree in 'Ofrah that belonged to Yo'ash the Avi'ezri. His son Gid'on was threshing wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from Midyan.

The angel of ADONAI appeared to him and said to him: "You valiant hero! ADONAI is with you!"

"Excuse me, sir," answered Gid'on, "but if ADONAI is with us, then why is all this happening to us? And where are all his miracles our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Didn't ADONAI bring us up from Egypt?' For now ADONAI has abandoned us and handed us over to Midyan."

ADONAI turned to him and said, "Go in this strength of yours and save Isra'el from the hands of Midyan. Haven't I sent you?"

But Gid'on answered him, "Forgive me, my Lord, but with what am I to save Isra'el? Why, my family is the poorest in M'nasheh, and I'm the youngest person in my father's house!"

ADONAI said to him, "Because I will be with you, you will strike down Midyan as easily as if they were just one man."

Gid'on replied, "If indeed you favor me, would you mind giving me a sign that it is really you talking with me?

Please don't leave until I go and return with a gift and present it to you." He replied, "I'll wait till you come back."

Gid'on went in, cooked a young goat and made matzot from a bushel of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them out to him under the pistachio tree and presented them.