1)

Angels do not appear sitting, only standing!

1.

Radak: Indeed, Yoshev means delaying 1 until Gid'on will turn to him. Gid'on did not turn to him, so he came to Gid'on. Also "Eshev Ad Shuvecha" (verse 18) and "Ashrei Yoshevei Veisecha" mean delaying.


1

Surely Acher explained like this. He had a tradition that angels do not sit (Divrei ha'Yamim 2 18:18 supports this), and he became a heretic when he saw Metatron sit [on one occasion] (Chagigah 15a)! (PF)

2)

Why did the angel delay before appearing to Gid'on (verse 12)?

1.

Radak: This teaches that Hashem is always available for Yisrael, if we will turn to Him and call to Him in truth.

2.

Radak citing a Midrash: He waited until he found a merit for him, i.e. Kivud Av (refer to 6:11:6:1).

3)

Why does it say "b'Afrah Asher l'Yo'ash"?

1.

Radak, Malbim #2: There was another city Afrah in Binyamin (Yehoshua 18:23).

2.

Malbim #1: The Elah (tree) was of Yo'ash.

4)

Why is he called Avi ha'Ezri?

1.

Rashi: He descends from Aviezer 1 ben Gil'ad ben Menasheh (Bamidbar 26:29-30).


1

There, he is called I'ezer. Usually Rashi points out when there is a change in the name! (PF)

5)

Gas is where people make wine!

1.

Rashi: He was using the beams of the winepress to beat 1 (Radak - i.e. thresh) the wheat.

2.

Radak: He was beating the wheat in the winepress.


1

Radak: When people do so, it is called Chovet; when animals do so , it is called Dash. "Ki Sachbot Zeisecha" (Devarim 24:20) is hitting them to make them fall.

6)

What is the meaning of "Lehanis Mipnei Midyan"?

1.

Rashi: His father was beating wheat]. Gid'on honored him and told him, father, you are old. If the enemy will come, you cannot flee. Go, and I will beat!

2.

Malbim: To bring the salvation, Gid'on needed merit and strength 1 , and Hashem would add to them. His readiness to flee shows strength.


1

What is his source? Barak defeated Sisera without a singular horse! Hashem later (7:4) told Gid'on that he has too many men!

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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