The Final Victory... But who is the Victor? Rabbi Neil Winkler

not but at least on to start our class and I hate to say to start but it isn't a start I say we're continuing and we are we're continuing of course you don't remember anything we said so many long you know three weeks ago but it's a joy so I've also I think I've once mentioned this uh to you. I have a habit of repeating things because a I don't remember if you remember, b I don't remember if I remember and see because it's important I'm saying something. We had a a um there was a a well-known professor at uh university wu and uh when you had to uh he he would come in he was a very he must have been a yaka very medic everything and he had his notes and the bell rang he stopped in the middle of the he stopped. So I was telling you the other day that when he walked out of the thing like that. A week and a half later, he goes that I was going, he just continues in the middle of the sentence. I know exactly what he was saying. What is it? Um, you know, I tell you [clears throat] all the time that I guess because I began with teaching the younger people and that's certainly true. Then of course with the shul the older people and that's certainly true that I go through but what we we're doing we were up to this and they easier for you and hopefully first of all I'm going to ask I I think we uh I'm going to give out the newest of the the um source sheets. [snorts] Um, I believe those of you who were nice enough to keep these saw sheets, um, the last one you may have gotten maybe in 15. >> Yeah, I know. You're the one that always I have to slept home every day. Um, so I um I hope you have not look it's not a big deal because I believe what I had in page 15 reaction we went on to what I'm going to start with 16 and um you can't it's the one that says 15 on the bottom >> anyway >> I was not here before so I don't have anything >> but it's still I understand that but 15 still had was on the bottom of the thing I'm giving idea 16, 17, and 18 now. Okay. If you still I also bought 15 for all those children who didn't take I have here over there. 15. Um here's the uh >> Well, you weren't here, I think, last time. Possibly. You were missing >> September 17th. >> No, no, we came after September 17th. What year, by the way, were you talking? Yeah, we >> never tell these people here. >> See, see, it says 16 year. Now, if you're going to give it back to me, I'm going to really have to carry this because it's two pieces of paper. >> Yeah. Keep on looking. You won't find anything. You are here. >> Search the National Start with 16. If you don't have 15, if you don't have 15, >> they said 14. So maybe have 15 on the other side. And what's the other side? >> Look at that. >> You found out that 15 was in the other side of 14. We're all very, very happy about this. So now we can stop with that. [laughter] Oh boy. What's wrong with these Jews? Ah, okay. We actually had been seeing uh coming to the very to the very very exciting part of where um of the victories of uh of Gdon over the and the bin uh the allied enemy that had attacked Israel during those I remember we touched upon how difficult it was for Israel because it was a very really a wicked type of thing. You know, think of Mamani, very wicked. Um and uh they would wait for the um the Israelite farmers if I would say whose entire economy was based upon what was going to be grown. Uh and they waited till it was growing beautifully in the uh in the spring and they would come and they wipe out everything. They would just took everything and wiped through the the fields completely away, taking up all of the all of the vegetation, fruits, whatever was there, and leaving them with nothing. It was a terrible thing. And although it was relatively not long, was I think se seven years like that, seven years of drought, but not if not drought, certainly of nothing is not a very happy time. And so the um battles and the victory over these uh these terrorists and I pointed them as as terrorists because included Amale that was a nation that had no real economy more than attacking others and taking them. We know that of course from the Torah, but we find that in uh here in in Tim. We find that in the end of Alf and that also they would just come and uh even after Sha had done done away with the one one of the areas of Amal Lake uh Amal Lake was just like they were bands they were I you know I don't say now uh better wins because in saying all bedawins were terrible things but they were bedawin like in that they were moving from place to place. They had very little censor central time place and they did have in the time of Saul a certain place where perhaps the majority of the malikim were and he just correctly did um defeat them and weaken them but they continued to be there and to giving you know giving headaches certainly to all around including the Israelites and that's what happens in the end of Shim Alf even though in the middle small we find that way he defeated the amalim they were still around and so I call them terrorists in that they had no real thing to they didn't want to they didn't want to in to take over the land they weren't interested in that land just all of them all of their whatever they had they take took that so this difficult time the was battled the gdon remarkably gathers a um an army which as I told you before um bringing together enough men of the is Israelites to an army more than just one tribal army uh was not easy. one of the great um uh the time the in the era of I should say the era of Chaftton. One of the few thing well actually not the few things it never happened that there would be a a united army. They're an army of two, three, sometimes even four different tribes. But everybody I repeated this over and over again and I will continue to do so because I want you to be bored. And that is that the local areas were who were impacted by the something like this were the ones who maybe would gather more than one or two tribes to fight against it. But for those who were not, I mean the people in the northun was not worried about what was happening to get on where he was. uh and yet it wasn't they were not a united nation. They were a tribal nation as I've repeated over and over again and I do that because it's extremely important to understand the era of the chauffeim without understanding that it tells explains to you why chauffeim moves into one of the first things we find is of course the na'vi the prophet of who who ironically and I'll say why it's ironically was the one to really put together the people to uh because he would go as a judge as a chauffe really as a Na'vi he was a prophet he was going he as opposed to many of our leadership he didn't sit down there and say okay you can come to me he went around to all the plague to to all of the tribes and he judged them he answered their questions he gave things whether it's kasha you know the chicken is kosher or not I don't know you know he g he did these things and the result of that was that people began to say see for the first time there is a leader of all of us and because of that they asked for a king and I say ironic because who was the one against the king it's your fault because he was so remarkable anyway Anyway, um it's a wonderful thing. I love to be able to say, "Okay, we're finished with the story of Gidon and then I can go on to these sad [snorts] I'm I'm trying to find a really a better name. I'm going to have to ask my source for the next years of aime there." So uh he was I don't even call him a chop even though he they do but what are they know they're just a tanakh uh he was a a chop of nothing he never fought really the animal the enemies what he did is he si created a civil war and primarily all he cared about was being the power he wanted to get well we'll see that when I uh bother you with Maybe it's a sh if not next week the week after. Anyway, so here we find as and I'm going to start there. I'll regard I will I think I have mentioned in the be end of the last subject that's okay on um 5A is what I called it. You'll find it on really on on the top of page fif uh on the bottom of page 15 actually. Um, let's see. Okay, good. Um, yeah. And as you see there on page 15, I call it um the victory. But who's here? I'll give it to you those who have it. Okay. And I'll start with this even though we did it because it's a better place to start. Okay. You have yours because I had last time. >> You're on 16. >> Okay. So, it's now it's 4 C because it's on 15. Let me get the Okay, >> it's it's um page because it's the bottom of 15. That's 4C. I think that was my apartment when I was in the Bronx. Anyway, um good and we read here about the victory and this was the the high point one would imagine with the uh the the battle of Gdon uh where it says again in the English those who enjoy the Hebrew very good uh it says he gone divided the 300 men into three columns and equipped them with all all with a ram's horn and an empty jar with a torch in each jar. Remember this is how the the main battle was right. Watch me, he said, and do the same. When I get to the outposts of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all those who with me blow our horns, you too all around the camp will blow your horns and shout for God and for Gdon. Gdon and the hundred men with him because it was again it was there were 300 and they were divided into 100. So with 100 men with him uh arrived at the outposts of camp and the beginning of the middle watch in middle of night just after the centuries were posted. They sounded horns and smashed the jars that they had with them and the three columns blew their horns and broke their jars. holding the to the torches in their left hands and the horns for blowing in their right hands. They shouted a sword for God and for Gdon. So I pointed out last time some of you may remember that the this sort of repetition of God and Gdon and this and Gdon, you know, and giddon and beginning to get a little uncomfortable. I'm more uncomfortable over the fact that they had in the left hand they had a trumpet in the right hand that a jar and where's the who you what are you fighting with? Are you going to spit at them? I mean where's your sword? You know, very good. You keep it in the belt. Nothing's going to happen to you. All right. So, but of course they were able to after you I guess smashed it. You took out the point that God is making is that you didn't even you're not even going to need your swords. The victory is completely God's and you don't of course be >> that you're not even going to need the the swords in your hands to fight that fight them. And that of course is what happened. I I recall or at least I'm repeating to you uh that which happened in case you have can they had the torches in the um jars so that in the middle of the night in the third part it's pitch black. It was just after the centuries changed so that these guys were tired. These guys were barely waking up. And at that point with the pitch black they see nothing, nobody. They smash that. They hear noise around. All of a sudden, there's light all around them. They don't know it's one only 100 100. They see all around. Now there's light and torches and fires and what's going on. It was a completely brilliant u military idea and successful one and it panicked out thousands and thousands of the enemy who eventually run away which they do very well. There are some people who actually some not armies whose most uh when they you know when they're preparing for uh attacks preparing for uh they they set they have a a real things how to run away. Yeah. Well there I know I think Italy did that throughout World War II. France should have done that same thing. Um so anyway they ran away very quickly. Um, and that was a great uh victory. And yet I say, but who's and I do that because that's the whole point. God and Gdon, God and Gdon, God and Gdon. And we get just a little unhappy with that. At that moment, right after the victory, these people who had been really uh attacking, invading, and um being horrible things to Israel for seven years, they're gone. But unfortunately, there were Jews involved in this story. And look what happens. So you look now on uh you could see this is only being uh page um 16. Correct. That's the 4 D now I think. Right. Okay. If you think it's easier for me to keep a track of this but I'm trying to my computer. I got the ABCD but I you know I've hurt I've hurt my arm a while patting myself in the back cuz I got it right finally. Okay. So what's telling what's happens you think in the time of victory well it starts with the words in Hebrew va explain to you what vita means in Hebrew. we all know means what they shouted. They scream is is a a means they gathered they gathered together. Okay. Um so we have you can't get one that moves back and forth. Uh no I try to keep in one place. It's easy. Not easy. So again in the English now and now Israel's side from Napali Asher and from all of rallied rallied for the pursuit of the Midionites. Don't you love this in they ran after them. All right. Gdon also sent messengers all through the hill country of Ephraim with this order. go down ahead of the Midionites and seize their access to the water all along the Jordan down to bed. This is also a very brilliant thing to do. Cut off the water supply and they still they won't be able to run away to get it. So, makes sense. Now, how could I tell you? Ephraim Harryam is a little north of Binyamin but all right. And so Ephraim's entire contingent rallied and they too they seized the water side down to Bak by the Jordan. They too remember that remember Gdon was not from Ephraim but you know from the area there. They pursued the Midionites and captured the Midianites two generals OV and Z. Um they're mentioned also in Tahilim. Okay. And they killed Av and they killed Zev and they brought the heads of O and Z from the other side of the Jordan to Gdon. We have a special present for you Gdon. you know, he he he was not happy. He told him, you know, because he knew you have to quit when you're ahead and those kids have two heads. Anyway, um they had that was the victory. That was a tremendous thing. And they had the other tri tribes had gathered together. This is the what we wanted to see. one almost hopes to see the beginning of the uniting of of the tribes when they're in trouble. You know, we Jews when we're in trouble, we get together after that, we can fight with each other. Um, and that's what's going to happen. And that's exactly what's going to happen. Um, [clears throat] so far the text is depicting a successful campaign that included the tribes of Naftali and Asher and Nash. That's good. Uh, it's an impressive feat for this era of the Shaim. The success of united uniting at least three tribes uh into one fighting force I guess is uh very very good. Um and just as you think things are doing really well just as it seems to have succeeded in leading a perfect united victory for Israel. Gdon now faces another challenge and that's where we start here in um 5A. The victory seems to be complete. And it was. But the Ephromites aren't too happy. Those in Ephraim's contingent said to him, "Why did you do this to us, not calling us when you went to fight the Midionites?" They rebuked him severely. So Gideon answered them. He said, "After all, what have I accomplished compared to you?" Boy, if Fry's gleanings are better than Abzar's vintage, boy, the Hebrew is so much nicer than the you know the actually it's a rather wellknown quote. It says to Olot Ephimz, I mean the worst of yours better than not mine. You know, you're the great guys. you know, don't worry about it. You know, God has delivered the Midionite generals, O and Z, into your after all he he right um as we said before that he got them. They were also seemingly part um and they were among those. was Ephraim. He sent he sent the people in Fru to go and fight and they're the ones who uh defeated the two big kings of um come on of you know the Midianites of the Midan they you are the heroes he's telling them um what and so what am I compared to you and when he spoke in this fashion their anger against him abaded which is a nice way They're saying okay they said they were calm down but already it begins with how come we wanted to do it also and we wanted to be part of the thing which is a nice thing to have but after it happens what are they complaining about I forgot you're Jewish so there's something that you're going to be complaining about right good now here it comes Um [sighs] it would seem that already what we thought would be a united tribes there's some friction there. So yes things were calmed down and giddone said something nice. Um, and the truth is when you look at this, that's why I always have a difficulty with Gdon. I was complaining about, you know, God and Gdon, God and Gdon. But the fact is [cough] the behavior of Gdon in this, it's a closing this chapter, the closing paragraph of the story gives to us a picture of a rather remarkable leader of Israel. He could have simply said, I'm the leader here. Who are you to complain to me? You're lucky that I may I have seen leaders who have done that and who do that. But he instead said no, we wanted to keep the people together. It's a very very I think uh impressive uh leadership that he did to keep the people together and um his belief in God and faith um would seem to um at be I mean begin you when we begin the story of Gdon. Do you remember one of the first things we found about Gizome when we first saw say once upon a time there was a man named Gdon. What happened? The first thing with him asked God like >> right he questioned God >> right an angel comes and said God says you're going to be victor says God who who is he where is he? Look what he's done to us. We're we're we're miserable here. we are being sent and that and then when he finally says okay if you say so but he asks for one God if you're really with me do this then he said well that was pretty nice it's a cute trick do the opposite now and then just when he's about to go to war to the battle he's not sure and God gives him another sign and yet now we see him as one who not only was believing in God but he was able to put that faith and belief in the people themselves. That's a very impressive thing. And um the Gumar says this many say this that um [clears throat] Gdon was the only one in the whole era of that one could say he was an almost king. >> [clears throat and cough] >> And it's not just the fact that they wanted to say that because they liked him, but we're going to see what happens in the story when the people are going to ask him to be king. How about them? Uh things they they're going to ask him to that. So he wasn't almost king then happened. It did not happen until Sha. There's a good reason why it wasn't. Among the fact is the fact he said no. But um uh it wasn't the time. But anyway, um he was a pretty remarkable person. Um as we'll see, they say he the people come after the victory and they said, "No, you shouldn't rule us. You your son, your grandson, only you." In other words, they wanted a dynasty. >> That's pretty something, you know, especially in this time of the And he says, "No, God is your king." Marshall, [laughter] he was impressive. Um, but we would be remiss were we not to continue and look at the conclusion of the war. And now the conduct of we get on at this time during these crucial months and with that we go to 5B. Okay. What happens [snorts] now? Giddon comes to uh came to the Jordan. He crossed it. Nebach the 300 men with him were famished but still in pursuit. understand that when the term when I when you say in Hebrew certainly in a modern Hebrew but even in the Torah we always think means tired that doesn't mean tired of it's it's famished when we speak about doesn't mean you were tired and tired because means tired means you were you were still famous. You were hungry, right? You didn't have didn't have that much. Okay. So, anyway, they were pretty tired, but still despite the fact that they, you know, the uh you know, the um McDonald's wasn't open. They were nothing to eat. So, they were still pursuing the enemy. So in the middle of this pursuit, Gdon turns to a Jewish village. I'd say a city, but saying the word city as we know it, to what was basically a village in the time of the Tana is not fair. It was a small it was enough people there, but it wasn't very big. And the name the place was Sukkot. Sukot is mentioned. Anybody know where else sukot is found in the Torah? It's in the Torah, by the way. >> Um mentioned that, but >> very good does that right after they leave Mitim, they also they stop at Sukkot. And I love the question. I used to love to say when's the first time we see that they ate matzo in Sukkot? You think they do it on peso? Yeah. But anyway, then when they went on they went to that's that's when they baked the uh unleavened bread and they ate sukot. Anyway, um so he said to this Jewish village of Sukkot and he said, "Please give some loaves of bread to the troops who are right behind me for they're famished. We haven't we've been we're fighting your your war your battle and these people Nebach you know they're like the muim the poor people who have how long out who are running and and they hardly have anything and they're asking these Jews give give us some give me some whatever something give us some loaves of bread for them right for they are famished and I am pursuing And this is before they had conquered, they had killed and eventually the two kings, right? The kings of Midian. But the officials of Sukkot reply replied, "Huh? Are Zebak and Saluna already in your hands that we should give bread to your army?" What happens if you're not going to get them? Then they're going to come back. Who are they going to attack? Us. So we should help you out. Forget it. We have nothing to do with it. We're the really nice people and we'll tell that to we but they didn't support Gdon and it's in the area right there. They would run. They were running. They were pursuing the enemy that that undoubtedly went through Sukkot or right around Sukkot and they still would not support their kinsmen by allow and so so here now Gdon sounds like a modern day leader and he said I swear when Hashem delivers Sabah and salmon into my hands. I will thresh your bodies upon desert thorns and briars. I'm going to get you for that one. So from there he went up to Pinuel and he made the same request to them. They were hungry. They had nothing to eat. So he passes Puuel that also was from Yeah. But the police of Puel gave him the same reply as the people of Sukkot. No, no, no, no, no. I'm not going to do it. Uh, shocking, but that's what they say. Um, you might want to turn my page. Okay. And what does he do? Um he goes uh what might be the reaction of Gideon to such a rebellious or even treacherous response from these cities? Is it rep rebellious to refuse a new leader? or might they consider Gdon not as their leader. He's a warrior and he's from a different tribe. Uh and uh maybe he was even unaware of the fact that God has chosen me. Yeah. Okay. Heard that before. We don't know why. So it's hard to say. And on one hand you said good for you Gdon. You should really give him this. On the other hand, we're saying what's really happening? Did they know? Should they have known? So on and so forth. It's taught. So if we go on with the text, it helps us with to answer. Isn't that nice of the text? I thought so. Uh if you look now at um no 5C, there you find we're already on page 17. But I tell you, I did so much work here. So look at the be top of sea along a thick but it was very important to Swedish. Gdon marched up the road of the what they call the ohale miked the the um tent dwellers probably from Benedam as you know they were their enemy by the way. He routed the camp which was off guard. Zevak and Saluna took to flight with Gdon in pursuit. He captured Zabak and Talunad, the two kings of Midian, and threw the whole army into panic. Exactly what we mentioned before, but now it's on his way back. Aha. Gdon captured a young man from among the people of Suko and he interrogate and he he interrogated them him. The uh latter drew up for him a list of the officials and the elders of Sukkot 77 in number. Then he came to the people of Sukkot. He said, "So here are Zevak and Sam about whom you mock me, saying that are Zevak and Sam already in your hands that we should be uh give your famished people men bread." And he took the elders of the city and bringing desert thorns and briars he punished the people of Sukkot with them. No, it seems like it was a whipping of some sort. As Puuel, he tore down its tower and he killed the town's people. I can't tell you why one was, you know, the response was the same in the two places. Why here he did so much more in Puuel than he did I can't tell you. Then he asked Ze and Saluna obviously had this question before. >> Huh? >> This was all on the same day >> that he >> I wasn't there. I know >> it was it was dur No, it was during the battle. the question how long was it? Ad admittedly we learned before that they got they cut his head their heads off and so on so forth but it it goes back now and says well this is how this all happened. This we have in the Torah and you look at the first this week's parasha you think about besides how God made man and then in the second para goes and gives the details about how he created this and that and did with man that that's a way of the Torah does that uh and saying this is the bigole we would say this is the basically what's happening and then here's the details of what happened and that's what came over here I don't know if it was the same day But I would imagine a day or two. It won't be much more than that. Okay. So he asked these uh these soon to be dead uh kings of enemy. He said those men you killed at Tavour, what were they like? Want to say what does he look like? You know, you know, checking the DNA and everything. So now they say saying, well, they said they look just like you. What a dumb answer. They replied and you'll see why. They looked like sons of a king. And Gdon says, "Hello, they were my brothers." He declared, "The ones that you attacked and killed. They were my brothers. As God lives, if you had spared them, I would not kill you. But you didn't." and he commanded his oldest son yet, "Go kill them." But the boy didn't draw his sword. I think he was still trying to bang on the uh jar and making it break, but they couldn't do it. So, the sword is still on the side. He He couldn't do it. It's probably a young man. It's It's It's Jewish. It's hard for him. Yeah. For he was timid, still being a boy. Very clear. Then Zabach and Saluna said, "Look, come on. You're going to kill us. You're the hero. Come, you slay us, for strength comes with manhood, and he's not a man yet. So you kill us. Then we know that we're killed by a man." So Gin went over and said, "Okay." And he killed Ze and Saluna. Um, okay. That is the story. Now, we might feel a tad uncomfortable with the decisions of Gdon. We might very well wonder was his decision to thresh the 77 uh leaders of uh Sukkot was that a correct thing to do? Was it an overly cruel punishment or was it important necessary to establish his leadership over the tribe and to to verify that he was a tribal chieftain chosen by God and simply therefore to punish those who had weakened the nation in the in the middle of a battle. Understand that? Imagine shalom uh we have to where we are now fighting against for our lives against our enemies around here and you have a bunch of people saying you know I'm going to help them you know it's a terrible thing likewise we can ask was it proper for him to destroy Pinu at least the and the tower of Pino killing the town's people no should he have killed even Zean Saluna or even try have his young on do so. And why did he claim that he would have spared the two enemy kings if they had not killed his own relatives? This was after all a national struggle. These are kings that were that were had invaded and had destroyed parts of Israel. And he said, "Well, but you're really nice guys. If you hadn't killed my brothers, I wouldn't have done so. it it doesn't lay well in us that we making this a personal thing rather than a national one. So that's problem that we have with Gdon over here. I could give away you know the punishment truthfully I can understand why as a leader it was understandable what they do classes don't if we have heir and we got him I mean he's still alive we would say no he's a nice guy we'll put him over here we did that once already which is why you know so understand you're going to kill him you a murderer you um but there are question and there are other questions to ponder look at five uh D at the bottom of page 17. Yeah. >> Before we get there, I was just wondering why not only why did he ask his son to kill him and why? >> That's a great question. >> Why does the text even mention mention that? >> Yeah. Well, was it a a a given the future leader? But then we find later on that he didn't want that. But you know, was that it? Was he trying to make him an Europe? You know, now it's time for you to be a man. >> Yeah. That >> or did he want to uh um embarrass the king? >> Don't have the kids going to kill you. You you know, don't know. It's a very good question. >> It's actually a lesson to us. future that we don't want child soldiers. We don't want children to be soldiers. >> Well, some people love it. >> Exactly. >> Yeah, that's exactly right. No, unquestioned. Even the kings and the enemy kings were saying this is a child. He's not a man, you know. So, they were teaching him something very good things. So anyway, if we [clears throat] can finish this and see here in 5D, then those who fought on Israel's side said to Gdon, "Rule over us, you your son, your grandson as well." This is what I I quoted to you before. This is on the middle of page uh nine or told you I mean sorry 17, right? Um yeah. Um, for you have saved us from the Midionites. But Gideon replied, I will not rule over you myself, nor shall my son rule over you. God alone shall rule over you. Boy, am I proud. That's a very powerful. He had the the ability to take over the whole area. They all wanted him to be a king. He said, "Oh, God is the king." Wow. This is a guy who started saying, "I don't know about God. Where is he?" Now, he says, "I'm not a king. God is the king." Very interesting. Then Ginon said to him, I he doesn't say however, but I'll say however. I have a request to make of you. Each of you give me the earring you received. any earrings received as booty from the animal, right? Certainly. Sure. We'll give them, you know, doesn't fit in my ear anyway. I'll give you the the earring, right? They spread out a cloth and everyone threw onto it the earrings he he or she had received as booty. The weight of the golden earrings that he had requested came to 1,700 shekels of gold. I don't know how much that would be nowadays, but it's pretty good, you know. And this was in addition to the c crescent and the pendants and the purple groes note purple and and uh and um kingship and stuff, right? Uh power worn by the kings of Midon. And in addition to the collars on the necks of the camels, not the purple camels, but you know, they had this stuff on it. Ganon made an ephod. It's like a breast plate plate uh of this gold and set it up in his own town of Ofra. There there all Israel went astray after it and it became a snare to Gdon and his household. What happened there? What do you think happened? He made it as something maybe as a victory monument but for himself himself. What happened? They started worshiping it. Exactly. When the the golden breastplate exactly right that's exactly thus Midion submitted to Israelites and did not raise his its head again and the land was tranquil for 40 years in Gdon time. Very nice. Very nice. um or not very when we get into the about every his son Abi Malik the next show fade so well difficult because it wasn't 40 years probably was 40 years and in that area what gon was and of the outside foreign but as we'll see internally was worse okay Now, am I allowed to go on? I officially have that for right now. >> 18. >> Okay. All right. um the remarkable success of uh Gdon's military foray uh his removal of the oppressive yoke of the Midan the miracles that they witnessed in the victory that all made him a true hero in the eyes of the people so much so that the masses wanted to make him the king of course as we see um you know undoubted we talk about the leadership of the the king there was the leadership of the tribe there. There was no or maybe even those ones around him perhaps. But listen carefully to why they wanted him and his descendants to be future kings to build a dynasty. What did they say? Uh to rule over us, your son, right? But are we not a little uncomfortable? They said nothing but God. It was it was Gindon who said no I can't God is the is the head he is the evil of you. So our concerns and doubts about GD may be have placed to rest. The doubts were gone. Truly his faith in Hashem uh was strong and robust and he knows he no longer needs the signs and the proofs that he once had. But the people it seems still didn't have complete thing. That's what they uh revealed us. The gold that gon requested for from the grateful nation became a gold that he used as an audi worshiping. You never know what's going to be can you blame him or should you have seen that was going to be it happened. You know I'll tell you something quickly quickly quickly. There was something that Moshe did as and then eventually later on it was destroyed. They did when there was and eventually later on in yeah they had to destroy it because people started to worship it. Got to be careful. Anyway, what's the uh saga? the end of the story. Oh, actually I'm almost finished. You're good. Um, look at 6A. There we have uh on the um Yeah. Is it 18? Yeah, 18. Right. Um good. Um it says that well it comes here that stated is a new name for gdon remember he was the one who fought against okay so he went back to his house in he wasn't a king he just sat down right this is really a reintroduction into what's going to happen for next time and that is he had 70 sons He had um he had seven 70 children because he was had many he had many wives. That's a very important in the ancient world the more children you have and the more wives you have shows how great power you have. So what happened with slowmo also it wasn't because of the fact that we had to go out and buy you know flowers for each one of the glass be shabas. is because it was a proof to the world around him. Look how powerful a king he was. He has a thousand wives. He didn't know their names, but he had wives. Um, come on. Let's figure out how you going to be a member of a thousand men and women. They all look the same anyway. Anyway, so um the Midionites eventually uh submitted to the Israelites and did not raise their heads again. And the um land was tranquil as I said here had many wives. A son was born to him by his concubine. It doesn't all regular lives. There were concubines were simply uh people in the wives from the in the her is basically what it is. It was really a you know he named him aime this is what we're going to have do talking about right at a ripe old age. He was buried in the tomb of his father Yawash at Ofra. And after he he died, the Israelites again went astray after the Bal Balim. And they adopted Balarit as a god. The Israelites gave no thought to their God who saved them from all the enemies around them. Nor did they show the loyalty to the house of Gdon in return for all the good they had done for Israel. What a wonderfully depressing ending. But that's exactly the story of Sephi. >> Thank you. >> That's exactly it. You know, you did bad, God helps you. Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Who did that? Do it again. Over and over and over and over again until in my humble opinion, which is correct. Um, the last of the show team is Shimon was probably the worst of all. Not for his own reason, but there's a reason for that. And I'll show you why when we get to it. Tomorrow, uh, next week we'll see the story of Aimelik. Okay. >> Oh, goody. I finished on time. Thank you.