Gideons Begins the War… with Hesitation | Rabbi Neil Weinkler

I will um remind you of what we had done at the very end of the shore. Um last week we've been speaking about yes GD own but we are speaking specifically about his hesitation to take on the leadership and when he begins to do so I think the final one of the last things that I had told you we would gone through and that [clears throat] is that he is tested by the mala that he should go and destroy the misbeh if you want to call it that uh the altar uh to the you know to the the idol to ba I think it was and that was built by his father and um he does so So he sort of stood to the test but he does so at night so that no one would see him doing it. So that somewhat of a hesitation. We could argue as I did I think lesson that you know you have to be a little foolish to go and do it outside in front of everybody. Haha look what I'm doing. So it's understandable. But had he been doing it as God hath told me that I have to do this, that was what perhaps what God would want. But okay, we ain't gonna tell him that he was wrong for doing that. But it does it does at least reflect the certain hesitation and fear that Gdon still has despite the fact that he's been having a lovely conversation with a mala. uh and uh the um the malik is a malikm. So he knew that um and but he does so and if you recall and I think I you probably do um that it wasn't only the fearful it says there that um aiv he was especially afraid of the family which makes a lot of sense for many of us. That's the most thing you're afraid of is th those who are closest to you. H I remember you you in Hebrew school, Hebrew school. Now suddenly your God's telling you the oh and now you're tearing down our altar and that's the altar of something that we you know so on and so forth. But he he was afraid of that. Um hesitation hesitation. Um, but he continues to take on the mantle of leadership. But part of what I'm going to go through and we're going to see in the text is that that hesitation remains here and there. and we're going to see that I am sure and I have faith in God but maybe he could do something for me instead you know and we're going to find that uh and again giving given the that era that part that generation what was happening there um the the security they may have had this was gone God wasn't the same as in the 40 years of the desert where you know you woke up in the morning and there's man in the morning and man in the evening and man at supper time. You had you had food given you had miracles [clears throat] each and every day. And uh that sort of that's like having wondering if God is there when God is doing all of these things. Uh there's a rash is a midrash based upon um after the splitting of the sea. Uh it says right that um that that came and the amal came and attacked. Why? They said right before that they had they wanted water and this and that. They they said hi in or is God with us or not? Um because they needed the water and so they know there was it was it was a testing of God. It's called naso mi. It's masa. And it's a so the mid says it is like this the child who's um riding on his father's shoulders. And a dog came and he he made sure the dog would not attack him. And he said, "My daddy, I'm hung I'm hungry." And he gave him food. Daddy, I'm he picked up the let me give it to him on his shoulders. They gave him a a a nice bottle of water. Uh and then and then when they had the water the God uh the people said and gee is God here or not? Said God your your father has been giving you all these things then you have the to say gee I wonder where my father is. So that's why I have Amal in a certain way that is why there was Amal coming upon them because they should have had full faith that God is certainly there watching them and protecting them. That was in the Midbar. They came to Yahosua. It wasn't like the midbar. On the other hand, there were uh one and there was one after the other victory over more powerful na nations and more numerous as well and they were taking over lands and there was a strong belief in God. Then also the problem comes in the era of the chauffet team where there was a gap of hey where's God you know no miracles that I see really and over those years and as I said last time it wasn't a matter of five or 10 years it was uh a generation probably uh that that grew up without seeing well god is here but They they were told about it. And if you recall what we said that the that Gidon when he's first told you're going to be a great leader and you're going to lead Israel in defeating the Midianites, the first thing he said is God is so great and what happened to us? So we had a he had the same questions. So he's building up more faith and we're understanding about why the faith wasn't as strong as it had been in the past. However, when God's talking to you, you know, [laughter] he's giving you this sign and that sign and there's a an angel of God. Maybe he should have a little more. >> We have to find out. I don't want to be judgmental when it came to Gdon. Gdon was a remarkable figure, [clears throat] but it's a good reflection of what was happening in the era and that generation and why it's happening good. So anyway, after he had destroyed that um they gave him a name and this is the time the name is uh because his father defended him and he said uh that uh if if you if you think that uh we have now offended Bal let him fight his own fights. What do you know? So the Yariv Balar B fight and therefore the name became now Yeru Ba. Yerub Ba became um another name for you. Even though it was a father who said it that they was for that yubal. Okay. Um and just as we thought that uh he's ready to move forward um in his leadership role. We're going to find once again that Yeah. Yeah. I'm I'm I'm going to do this. Just one more thing and I'll give out the one more thing as we are going through the sources on pages now 14 and 15. If you notice that's probably after 12 and 13. Good. That's right. Just in case you forgot the numbers. Okay. >> Thank you. Okay. Okay. >> CC. >> I've had this on my seat for the last 25 years. You hadn't seen it for the last but I always had it. >> Yes, I did. One of the people who did this, who created that was a student of mine uh when I was teaching in back in Trenton. Uh he's now my dentist. But anyway, uh [clears throat] he is I tell you, uh we always kept a connection and so happens he opens up a um his dental uh thing in uh that we know you know what that is. Huh? >> Is he any good? >> He is not only any good he's remarkable person. You may you probably might know the name of Ari Greenspan who does things like um he's a moel. He's also a is also uh he was always a guy who just even when a kid as a kid I know had him in seventh grade eighth grade he liked to do all these different things. He has a home now that in Ephra where he has he has a a an a a an oven for matzo baking. He has an I think an anro I think he has the seven he has a whole field I think has a different the uh different grains you know and things like everything but more than that is a by the way also in case you missed that huh >> he goes on uh works he goes to the most amazing places he he under uncovers Jewish communities these where there's noville at all. um he writes about them in fact and he goes there I remember he was going to in Russia to there's to to give uh to give mila to these communities they never had a mayo uh and he doesn't no he doesn't um of course ask for any um money for that he does he's it's remarkable remarkable he's just a remarkable person understandable given the fact that he was my students. Anyway, um >> Greenspan, >> Ari Greenspan, yes magazine about somebody who went to RA and did all these meas. So, I'm going to go back and see if it's the same name. >> Could be. Could I know people do that? He he he went to India. He goes to places. He was once put in jail because he was going to over uh he went he stepped over a border which he didn't even know he had. And they said, "Oh, you're not allowed to be here." and it it but he's gone to through amazing difficulty but he always goes he just does remarkable things. Um how I got into this conversation I don't know but it was a nice conversation where uh now we're going to fire. That's right. That's your fault Rosanne. Okay. Um we're going to start with the uh number three. the top of 13 of page uh I'm sorry 14 uh about um how now having destroyed the uh altars in Ofra he now goes to ask um is it yeah uh he and he says the following said to God if you really intend to deliver Israel through me as you said you would another hesitation there right here I place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor now if dew falls only on the fleas and all around remains dry obviously had just learned gumra in the morning I shall know that you will deliver Israel through me as you have said. >> He gives Israel against God a test. >> It's against the Torah. You're not allowed to go to You're not allowed to test God. Yeah. If you're really God, I want to I want $2 million here. Oh, didn't come. God isn't here. You can't do that. Other wouldn't mind the money. But anyway, you're not allowed to do such a thing. You can't do that. He does this. And that is what happened. And God did exactly that. I'm going to get this guy to be the leader, man. He's going to do it. I'll prove it again. And early the next day when he woke up, he squeezed the fleece and rung out the dew from the felise. A bowl full of water. That's a lot. Right now, Gdon is certainly convinced. You want to bet? Then Gdon said to God, "Don't be angry with me if I speak just one more. Let me ma make just one more test with the fleet fleece. Let the fleece alone be dry while there will be dew all over the ground." The opposite of what happened the night before. So God did that that night. Only the fleece was dry and while there was dew all over the ground. Okay, he's going on. But you see what's happening? He he is I I believe in God except maybe you could do this. This is a hesitation he has. And again it did a reflection of of years of the a lack of belief in God and the faith in [clears throat] God. Very very sad as it was. Um but it's time now it's time already you go telling him cut it out now you got to start and do the job. And that's exactly what happens. So at this point now um you don't really accept the leadership now he's going to bell now there will be no no hesitations [laughter] as you think um so his army that he gathers now uh starts to prepare for this confrontation with Midion and um with with and and the people now believed in Gdon and they were committed to God and his military plan as it were. Now remember what was happening. Do you recall what we said last week? The fear of the Midianites and what they had done to Israel for I think they what seven years was actually completely destroying their economy. Remember and uh they let they let them do all the work and then they came and they took over all of what they had done agriculturally. It's it's a very very difficult thing. So you know how they do have fear of the Midians. They were able to take over everything and destroying an economy completely, right? So they now feel that God is with them and um to a certain degree God is now nervous. I wouldn't use the term nervous. He fears of what will happen. Let's see if you can figure this one out. I'm not expecting you to, but I'll give you a chance. When Israel, when anyone who didn't believe and said, "God's going to do this for you and they it happens," what is often the result? What does the reaction is when when it what God promised would happen does happen? You know the story of the guy who prayed to God who never went to shul and he needed to find a good parking spot in Midtown Manhattan and he oh God please show me close and I promise I'll be going to the temple or I'll be going please right and what happens he gets the uh the parking spot and he says uh uh no never mind God I found one myself right it's a common thing. God promises something. And he says, "I promise if you do this or or they said, "Oh, we believe. We believe. I know you're going to do it." Right? And um God is fearful. Not again. Fearful is a terrible thing to say about God. He's concerned that any victory over the enemy, such a tremendous victory, uh might easily find the Israelites not saying, "We all now must believe in God. Look at what God has done for us." But say, "Hey, did you see that?" That's what happens. We we we found a new sword and we're really doing well. We're great warriors now. That it wasn't God. It was them. The Torah says something like that in part, doesn't it? People say all everything that we have succeeded in doing is because of my own strength and my own courage. That's how it happened. And God is fearful that that's going to be the reaction of Israel um to find the [clears throat] that to take the credit shall I say for their victory over Midan. >> So >> the same thing happened now with the Iranian with the war against Iran. They didn't contribute all these planes that >> I hate to say that because it's true to a degree. It's also true that those who spent time being kidnapped came back and suddenly put on fillain and had more of a commit. We've been discussing that once it's an interesting action. What was a reaction when something terrible happens? You pray to God and it works, right? Yeah. What h in the Holocaust? They didn't say there not everybody said, "Oh, God has saved me." But say, "Hey, God has made me go through this hell." you know, so it's a hard thing to say, but both are correct. I agree. Um, but God fearing that that might happen, wanted to make this not just a victory, but it's going to be an impossibly even possibly imaginable victory. And what does he do? As we will see, um, Gdon had gathered about 22,000 men as an army, soldiers. Um, and God says, "Nah, too many people, not not a big enough uh miracle." So he said, "Uh, well, we'll cut down the army to a battalion of of 10,000." And so it's a he has 12,000 of them go away. I got 10,000 now. That would be unbelievable victory. And God says, "Not that great." And he in the end gathers only a brigade of 300 soldiers. That's what God is doing. I would imagine um Giddon was a little nervous about this. And God, are you sure about this, God? you know, of course, God is sure. Um, but it would be a victory that was without a question a divine victory and not one of Israel itself. Um because there were those who uh had no belief or fa faith in God or his power or even that Gdon had that power or really was true and uh they would be the first to say um it's their victory. I've mentioned and I reminded you because it still remains in my mind um that after the six day war there were uh on stickers on the um cars in Israel kola cavo all of the credit goes to sal understandable it was unbelievable what they did and 7 six years later in 1973 after that very difficult victory and Yum Kipur I I was I came back to Israel that time and there was a different sticker there it says Israel wow there's a difference I I I get moved when I think about that but that's clearly what was happening there too. It was a recognition that it wasn't all of us. We weren't the one only ones. It was tal was tal as in this time also tal was tal and but not it was very I found that years ago I heard uh very few people saying someone had gotten had to go through a surgery. It was a difficult surgery and thank the surgeon by saying good have good hands. God has given you good hands. It wasn't that you're a great surgeon. God has given you the ability really the correct way of seeing it. It really is. We don't oftenly do that because we want to thank you is the surgeon and because you had to pay him and not God. So therefore that's why the people say it. But really that's the truth. A believing person says Hashem, thank you God for giving us a surgeon like that or a doctor like that. So he now wants to make sure that that's what they're going to say. Not boy did what we fighters and then we do. God wants to make sure you're going to say thank you God. So look what happens here. Um uh um this is number three. Oh, okay. We did three already. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Now on number four, uh we're now Oh, yeah. That's right. After number three, I'm doing very well with the number. So, and there we find that in the Hebrew. Now God said to Gdon, this is when he had gathered the 22,000 soldiers. Now I did an unfortunate thing where I I gave you I I I told you what was going to happen, but this is how it's happening. Okay? He said, "You have too many troops with you for and for me to deliver Midian into their hands. Israel might claim for themselves the glory due to me thinking that our own hand has brought us victory. Right? Cover again. And therefore I want you to announce to the men, let anybody who is timid and fearful turn back. Nothing very very shocking. It's a Torah. Uh really not when you were being attacked by somebody. When you were attacked and you have to be you have to um protect Israel, protect yourself. Everybody has to go to war as it says in the Mishna. Even a bridegroom when he is under the the the the Koopa has to stop what he's doing and join the uh army fight to serve Israel. No comments. Uh and everybody's thinking that uh and but here they would they wouldn't do it. They would they wouldn't say you can go home. That would the only if it's a a different type of war. Any rate. So he told them that and sure enough they are Jews. Come on 12,000 out of the out of the 20s you left. If that's the option you're giving me I should have come on give me a break. I sometimes say if this is a time when the the farmers are going to gather and harvest what they need and now you have to go to a war. It's very tough. What are you going to do? That's almost like in have having um someone in in the army in Miloim who has to go and not have his store closed. Imagine something like that happening. Uh duh. Yeah. So, it's a tough thing. But whether that was the reason or not, they went and which is God was happy for because he wanted to know. put down the cut. Yeah. And so there were 10,000 remain and God says there are still too many troops. So God, Hashem said to Gdon, take them down to the water. This is a very interesting and pretty well-known test. And I will sift them for you there. Anyone of whom I tell you this one is to go with you. Well, that one shall go with you. And anyone of whom I tell you this one is not to go with you, guess what? That one shall not go. In other words, I'll pick the guys we want. Now, Gdon has no idea how many that's going to be and who that's going to be. So Gdona took the troops down to the water and but you do need water before a war. Um and God said to him, "Set apart set apart all those who lap up the water with their tongues, you know, like dogs would do, right? From all those who get down on their knees to drink." Okay? Those who lapped the water into their mouths by hand numbered by 300 while all the rest of the troops got down on their knees to drink. We can have a figure out one why that happens. A lot of different for why is one or the other. One can simply say there's no reason but the least people that was going to be left there was what god watches but um there are number of approaches as to explaining why uh on your knees or or laying down you know why there's a difference there and I'll touch upon some you know um the the um I one of the reasons that I'll share with you is simple For those who instinctively went down went down on their knees were most likely for those who went down on their knees in serving and worshiping Ba. That's one uh not saying that's the only one reason they said it sort of was that was their habit to do so and if that's one God did not want them to now do that. Huh? So this is what happens now. Gdon stands up to the first test of diminishing the war the number of his warriors. Um, wow. So, it seems that he didn't complain. Said, "What are you kidding me? I got 300 guys to to to go and meet this huge army of the Midionites. What do you expect of me?" Doesn't say that. He accepts that and goes down to 300 people. By the way, if I'm correct, um there is one time when 300 people actually also won a war. Was it Yoshua? Was it 300 dividing dividing groups into three from three different places? And that was it. Maybe again something got confused. I believe that was however a way that he he frightened away the uh the enemy. At any rate, um, so now get on the fully uh comp completely faithful believing uh leadership still needs another sign. See, just when you think it was all done, you're wrong. Now look what happens here. Um, and here are up to 4B at the bottom of page 14. What happens? It was the evening the night before. It feels like I'm starting with a uh Christmas poem. No, there was a the night before the battle. And here we read the English is by the way on the other side of course in page 15 where it says that night Hashem said to him all right it's time for you come it says and um attack the camp meaning the enemy camp for I have delivered it into your hands good and we are that's we're a little naive expecting and say and Gon went home with the army and he attacks the thing didn't as we see God foresees what uh Gdon is going to be nervous about and so he says says, "And if you are afraid to attack, which means, and I know that you're afraid to attack, um, first go down to the camp with your attendant, Pura." Didn't know about him, did you? Well, congratulations. I'm introduced you with some fur pura was he attendant of Gdon. He said, "And listen to what they say." They being the enemy camp, the enemy in the camp. See what they have to say. After that, you will have the courage to attack the camp. What in the world can they say? We'll find out. So, he went down with his attendant, Pura, to the outposts of the warriors who were in the camp. Now Midian Amal and all the Kedites Kedm were spread over the plane. Again, I remind you that it wasn't just Midan, although that was the largest and probably the strongest. You had the Bened and you had also your your friend and mine, the Amalakes, right? Funny. I told somebody >> Yeah. always get to a free by somebody else is gonna be funny and yeah or as I used to tell funny when he said I asked somebody what the who was the enemy they said I'm a lake I said funny you don't look like a lake anyway you go on now and you listen carefully what happens see that it wasn't just a camp they were spread all over the plane all over the entire area as thick locusts. That's probably one of the best compar comparison that the Tanah has. That means there were there were a lot of them, right? [laughter] And their camels were countless as numerous as the sands on the seashore also. Right? You see the little time. In other words, just to give you the pretty impressive army that was gathered of from these three uh powers uh against 300 men. Scary, right? Well, Gdon came there just when one man was narrating a dream, a dream he had to another wonderful once upon a time. Listen, he said to the other guy, he said, "I had to stream. There was a commotion. A loaf of barley bread was whirling through the midnight camp. Anybody here ever had a dream of a barley?" Anyone had that? But he did it, right? It came to a tent and it struck it and it fell. and turned it upside down and the tent collapsed. That was my dream. And instead of telling him, "Are you feeling okay?" The uh um the the uh friend, his fellow, the listener >> to this. The other responded, "That can only mean the sword of the Israelite Gdon. God is delivering Minion and the entire camp into his hands. Good way of starting a good panic, isn't it? Well, when Gdon heard the dream um the the dream told and in interpreted, he bowed low. Returning to the camp of Israel, he shouted, "Come on." He said, "Hashem has delivered the Med Midionite camp into your hands." Here finally is Gdon no longer hesitating, no longer questioning, no longer even um shuddering in fear. Now he said to everybody, "We're going to end this one. Let's go. Which which is what a leader should be able to tell his army. As it goes on, indeed the 300 did defeat those who at the very beginning began to run away, panicked. uh and the victory is is um completed and uh seems to be final. The story of Giron however is not and we're going to go next time also I talk about that is not that simple because again it reflects a different generation and that's what I try to make clear to you why things weren't as clean as they should have been but as we go on it's quite revealing uh in a text of uh to note how GDON conducts the war. Now I told you about dividing the 300 into groups of 100 100 and I was trying to figure out where it was and I did figure it out. That's what we're going to write now. Every demo it was it was get up. I know somebody did it. It's gone. Watch what happens now. and 4 C. Uh that's on page now 15. There we're going to see what happens. Um Vat now from the word and where it's find in the Torah also. That's what Jacob does when he when is running after him, right? It says there he divided up. He split up. Yeah. What? Who >> you have? >> He must be Jewish. He thinks of Yakat with food, you know. Anyway, this is what's not with food. He divided the opponent effect the 300 men into three columns and equipped them all with very remarkable weaponry. A ram's horn, an empty jar, and a torch in each jar. I think the IDF does it now also all the time. There's the weapons. This is what he does. And he says, "Watch me," he said, "and do the same. When I get to the outposts of the camp, do exactly what I do. When I um and when I and all those with me blow our horns, you too. I'm sorry. Uh um do do you have it here? >> Okay, good. Because I have a different thing. I have my my own notes together with that. Okay, good. I'll make sure that was you two run the clan and you will blow your horns um and shout for God and for Gdon. God and Gdon. Gdon and the hundred men with him arrived at the out posts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch. Middle watch is nothing to do what's on your arm. Yeah. A middle watch is the in the middle of the night. Now there's a dis agreement whether it's the the middle watch is is it from 10 to one then one to four and four to seven whatever it is. Uh but it's the middle one that's the the darkest in effect. It's uh okay. And that's when they do that. So, and it was just after the centuries were posted. In other words, the first watch had gone back to sleep. The third watch had yet woken up. And this is now the second watch. Right? They sounded the horns and they smashed the jars that they were had holding with them. Remember, a jar now was not in water. It was in probably pottery, which means that they didn't see the torches because it was covered. >> No, that's why I realized I hadn't said that. That's why I want to tell you. So therefore, they didn't see. It was pitch black in the middle of the night and everything is quiet. And they start with the horns. They smash the jars and it's to and all around them they have fire. They have a horse the torches and they you know and um and and the three columns blew the horns and broke the jars holding the torches in their left hands and the horns for blowing in their right hands. They shout a sword for God and for Gidon. This panics everybody. That's after the dream that oh we're going to be we're going to be defeated by Gdon and his god here. They're screaming for God and gidon and they and it's a middle and the the night gets lit up and you know it just doesn't happen in the ancient world like that. And suddenly they're surrounded. How many people were there? Must be 50,000. You know there 300 of them. So that makes them very frightened. And um for Giddon therefore it seems that the g the battle was won for God and for Gdon. Watch me and do the same. Do exactly as I do. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. It wasn't for God. Was for God and ghetto. Watch me. Father what I'm going to do >> cuz that may be something that isn't wait and you know it certainly seems that he focuses on himself even >> can't weapon if there's a >> ah that's what I was going to ask the question. It's exactly what I was going to ask the question. What the heck is they want? And the answer was they didn't have they didn't have weapons. >> They had weapons. You know, it would seem so this happens not uncommonly. Well, it does happen another time. The time of Sha where there the another wonderful enemy constantly the pleine uh had taken over the whole area. He was the king. He became the king. But the bulk of the of the of the land was be under the control of the Philistines. And though they did not look to grab the crew or to invade and to take over, they just said that yeah, and you'll be paying, you know, taxes and things like that. And uh so Israel went to fight and uh that was they went to fight when at a time where they had no no weapons whatsoever. The Philistines had such a hold on the nation in that area. They would not allow any metal in the hands of the Israelites. You talk about the iron the iron age. They they forget it. So they didn't have anything any iron metal things for for for even hoing for for you know there goes the the what I said the uh the lawn mower and there goes the they couldn't have it they didn't have that at all they had and so they didn't have anything and they went to war with that there there the hero was Yo Natan Yonatan Um yeah, son. Yeah. >> Question. So they didn't want to recreate the dream with the barley bread. >> Well, the dream the the the dream was not necessarily a a a exact uh literal thing what was going to happen. The basic idea was that we're going to be defeated. And you want to say they're going to overrun our tents? Well, they did. They ran. They were panicked. So that would be the the real realization of that um dream I suppose. Um uh so this might trouble us and for some people it did saying that uh I'm not so much troubled that it but but if you regard to um if you we regard unfair to judge Gdon's behavior in the midst of a battle a time when he urged his men to unite together behind him for the victory okay then let us turn to the postdefeat heat of the enemy. And that is the pursuit of the Midionites. And I would like to stop here. >> That's a good point. >> I know. Don't cry. It's okay. Uh yeah. >> Huh? >> That's right. That and Yeah. And and and believe me, there's more to do. Uh at least one more if not more than one more class. So >> you read this story about >> very interesting when you open up a Na'vi and you look to Z that's when you read it >> it's not a ha to Torah. No, that's yeah, that's why I when I started writing about the haftar, I do it a lot because of the fact that there's not a very wide um knowledge of na'vi because unless it's a ha tora they never heard of the time they don't like I told you in team how many ha toro come from safer team all those I think 24 two correct >> huh >> and >> and I don't know who >> that's it. So we ne that's why I I was excited to give a class of this because it's something that most of you you just didn't see didn't haven't learned don't remember. So that's why it's great.