Judges Chapter 8
1 The men of Ephraim said to him, What is this you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight with the Midianites? They rebuked him sharply.
2 He said to them, What have I done now in comparison to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
3 God has delivered to you the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their spirits toward him went away when he had said that.
4 Gideon came to Jordan, crossing over, he and the 300 men with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
5 He said to the men of Succoth, I ask you to give loaves of bread to the people who follow me for they are tired and I am chasing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
6 The rulers of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, so that we should give bread to your army?
7 Gideon said, Therefore, when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
8 He went from there to Penuel, and spoke to them likewise. The men of Penuel answered him like the men of Succoth had answered.
9 He spoke also to the men of Penuel saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
10 Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about 15,000, all who were left of all the armies of the children of the east. For 120,000 men who drew sword fell.
11 Gideon went by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army. For the army was at ease.
12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and destroyed all the army.
13 Gideon the son of Joash turned back from battle before Mount Heres.
14 He caught a young man of the men of Succoth and asked of him. He described to him the rulers of Succoth, and its elders, 77 men.
15 He came to the men of Succoth and said, Behold, Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom you rebuked me saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand so that we should give bread to your men who are weary?
16 He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
17 He beat down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.
18 He said to Zebah and Zalmunna, How were the men whom you killed in Tabor? They answered, As you are, so they. Each one resembled the children of a king.
19 He said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.
20 He said to Jether his firstborn, Up. Kill them. But the youth did not draw his sword, for he feared, because he was still a youth.
21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise and fall upon us. For as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments on their camels' necks.
22 The men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us, both you and your son, and your son's son also. For you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.
23 Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, neither will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.
24 Gideon said to them, I would desire a favor of you, that each man of you would give me the earrings of his prey. For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
25 They answered, We will gladly give. They spread a cloth, and each man threw the earrings of his prey in it.
26 The weight of the golden earrings that he asked for was 1,700 of gold, besides ornaments, and pendants, and purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains around their camels' necks.
27 Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city in Ophrah. Then all Israel went there lusting after it so thing became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
28 Midian was subdued before the children of Israel so that they no longer lifted up their heads. Then the land had rest for 40 years in the days of Gideon.
29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash lived in his own house.
30 Gideon had 70 sons fathered by his body for he had many wives.
31 His concubine, who was in Shechem, also bore a son whose name he called Abimelech.
32 Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again and went lusting after the Baals and made Baalberith their god.
34 The children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side.
35 Nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, Gideon, according to all the goodness that he had shown to Israel.