Rashi on the Former Prophets

Acted wickedly. Until this period, Scripture states, "They resumed [acting wickedly]" since their iniquities accumulated. However, through this hymn they were granted forgiveness for all that they had perpetrated. But now they began sinning anew. This interpretation is in Agadas Tehilim.

Retreats. Hidden places. In old French, "voutes". Because a slight bit of illumination is positioned in them in some inconspicuous spot, they are referred to as מִנְהׇרוֹת, lit. "glimmerings", "lucerno" in old French.
Caves. "Grotte" in old French
Stockades. "Palliser" in old French, "pales", as it is constructed in the forest by felling trees around its perimeter.

With their cattle to graze on the produce.

A prophet. This prophet was Pinchas. Taken from Seder Olam.

The Aviezrite. One of the sons of Aviezer ben Gilod ben Menasheh.
His son Gidon. His father had been threshing, while he sifted. He told him, "Father, you are elderly. If the enemies come, you will never be able to escape. You leave, and I will thresh."
In the wine press. With beams of an olive press.

Adonoy is with you, man of supreme power. Since He infused you with such power.

If [lit. and] Adonoy is with us. If Adonoy is with us, why has [all this] occurred, etc.
Which our forefathers recounted to us. It was Pesach, and he told him, "Last night father recited the Hallel for me, and I heard him read, "When Yisroel departed from Egypt"—but now He has abandoned us. If our forefathers were saintly, let Him act in our behalf in their merit; and if they were wicked, then, just as He worked His wonders for them gratuitously, so, let Him act in our behalf. Where are all His marvels?"

Turned to him. The Holy One, blessed is He, Himself.
By this power of yours. By the power of the merit of your advocacy of my children. This is R' Tanchuma's explanation.

Behold, my unit [lit. thousand]. The thousand member unit of which I am a constituent, under the command of its captain, is the most inadequate unit among all the units in Menasheh.

That you. The same as שֶׁאַתׇּה, with the segol vocalization. vocalization, which appears in the text, is the same as שֶׁאַתׇּה “that you.”

Matzos containing flour. We learn that it was Pesach, the day the Omer offering was waved. This is why it is said, "Behold, a toasted barley bread was careening, etc."
Soup. Broth.

Aahha. This denotes apprehension, as if to say, "What will become of me?"
This, because I have seen. Because I have seen an angel of Adonoy—this is why I am apprehensive and exclaim "Aahha!"

Entitled it. Gidon named the altar.
Adonoy is peace. Adonoy is our peace.

Bullock [lit. bull ox]. The young bull, as even a day old ox is called an "ox".
A second bull.וְתוֹרָא תִּנְיׇנׇא, "A second bull".
Seven year. Which had been fattened for seven years to be brought as an idolatrous sacrifice. Eight prohibitions were suspended sacrifices were now used. 3. The wood of the Asheirah tree was used as fuel. 4. The offering was brought at night. 5. It was brought on a personal altar outside the Mishkon at Shiloh. 6. The second bull had been actually worshipped as a deity. 7. Gidon was not a Kohein. 8. He did not use the required sacred utensils. that night; 'designated', 'asheirah', 'night', 'altar', etc., as enumerated in Temurah.

Top of the bulwark. Top of the rock.

You want to fight for [lit. "to"] the baal? For the sake of the baal.
To avenge [lit. rescue] him. To exact vengeance for him. Similarly, "by my own hand exacting my vengeance," by David concerning Novol.
Whoever fights for [lit. "to"] him. For his sake.
Wait until morning. Until morning, wait.
If he is a god let him fight his own battle and exact his own vengeance. To rebuff them until Gidon could escape, he said this.

Fight against him. Against Gidon. In relation to רַיב, "fight", the proper term is עִם, or אֶת, or בּוֹ, "with" [him], as in "he fought with Lavan". However, לוֹ, lit. "to", is not the proper term. Every לוֹ mentioned here is interpreted as "for his sake."

The Divine spirit. The spirit of valor.
Aviezer gathered. The entire clan.

That is what occurred. The dew condensed on the fleece alone more than everywhere else, as it is said, "a full bowl of water." However, "while all of the ground is dry" did not materialize, as a Divine covenant assures perpetual dew fall.
He squeezed. The word connotes pressure. Similarly, "They were neither pressed nor bandaged." They were not strapped in bandages to draw out the discharge.