Shofetim 8:25

25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread out a simlah (upper garment), and did cast therein every ish the nezem of his booty.

Shofetim 8:25 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 8:25

And they answered, we will willingly give them
Or, "in giving we will give" ^F4; give them with all their hearts, most freely and cheerfully:

and they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings
of his prey;
every man one, which would amount to no more than three hundred; though perhaps those who joined in the pursuit might take many more, or otherwise the weight of them would not amount to what in the next verse they are said to weigh.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Ntn Nwtn) "dando dabimus", Pagninus, Montanus.

Shofetim 8:25 In-Context

23 And Gid’on said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall beni rule over you; Hashem shall rule over you.

24 And Gid’on said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every ish the nezem (earring) of his booty—for they had nizmei zahav (gold earrings), because they were Yishmaelim [descendents of Ishmael].

25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread out a simlah (upper garment), and did cast therein every ish the nezem of his booty.

26 And the weight of the nizmei hazahav that he requested was 1,700 shekels of zahav; beside ornaments, and pendants, and purple raiment that was on the melachim of Midyan, and apart from the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

27 And Gid’on made an ephod thereof, and put it in his Ir, even in Ophrah; and kol Yisroel went there a-whoring after it; which thing became a mokesh (snare) unto Gid’on, and to his Bais.