Entonces los hombres de Efraín le dijeron: ¿Qué es esto que nos has hecho, al no llamarnos cuando fuiste a pelear contra Madián^a? Y lo criticaron duramente. 2 Pero él les dijo: ¿Qué he hecho yo ahora en comparación con vosotros? ¿No es mejor el rebusco de Efraín que la vendimia de Abiezer? 3 Dios ha entregado en vuestras manos a los jefes de Madián, Oreb y Zeeb; ¿y qué pude hacer yo en comparación con vosotros? Entonces se aplacó la ira¹ de ellos contra él cuando dijo esto².

4 Gedeón y los trescientos hombres que iban con él llegaron al Jordán y lo cruzaron, cansados, mas continuando la persecución^a. 5 Y dijo a los hombres de Sucot^a: Os ruego que deis pan¹ a la gente que me sigue, porque están cansados, y estoy persiguiendo a Zeba y a Zalmuna, reyes de Madián. 6 Y los jefes de Sucot dijeron: ¿Están ya las manos¹ de Zeba y Zalmuna en tu poder², para que demos pan a tu ejército^a? 7 Y Gedeón respondió: Muy bien¹, cuando el SEÑOR haya entregado en mi mano a Zeba y a Zalmuna^a, trillaré² vuestras carnes con espinos del desierto y con abrojos. 8 De allí subió a Peniel^a, y les habló de la misma manera; y los hombres de Peniel le respondieron tal como los de Sucot le habían contestado. 9 Y habló también a los hombres de Peniel, diciendo: Cuando yo vuelva sano y salvo¹, derribaré esta torre^a. 10 Ahora bien, Zeba y Zalmuna estaban en Carcor, y sus ejércitos¹ con ellos, unos quince mil hombres, los que habían quedado de todo el ejército² de los hijos del oriente; porque los que habían caído eran ciento veinte mil hombres que sacaban espada^a. 11 Y subió Gedeón por el camino de los que habitaban en tiendas al este de Noba y Jogbeha, y atacó¹ el campamento cuando el campamento estaba desprevenido². 12 Cuando Zeba y Zalmuna huyeron, los persiguió; capturó a los dos reyes de Madián, Zeba y Zalmuna y llenó de terror a todo el ejército¹.

13 Después Gedeón, hijo de Joás, volvió de la batalla por la subida a Heres¹. 14 Y capturó a un joven de¹ Sucot y lo interrogó. Entonces el joven le dio por escrito los nombres de los príncipes de Sucot y de sus ancianos, setenta y siete hombres. 15 Y fue a los hombres de Sucot y dijo: He aquí a Zeba y a Zalmuna, acerca de los cuales me injuriasteis, diciendo: «¿Están ya las manos¹ de Zeba y Zalmuna en tu mano para que demos pan a tus hombres que están fatigados^a?». 16 Entonces tomó a los ancianos de la ciudad, y espinos del desierto y abrojos, y con ellos castigó a¹ los hombres de Sucot. 17 Derribó la torre de Peniel^a y mató a los hombres de la ciudad.

18 Después dijo a Zeba y a Zalmuna: ¿Qué clase de hombres eran los que matasteis en Tabor? Y ellos respondieron: Eran como tú, cada uno parecía hijo¹ de rey. 19 Y él dijo: Eran mis hermanos, hijos de mi madre. Vive el SEÑOR, que si los hubierais dejado con vida, yo no os quitaría la vida. 20 Y dijo a Jeter su primogénito: Levántate y mátalos. Pero el joven no sacó la espada porque tenía temor, pues todavía era muchacho. 21 Entonces Zeba y Zalmuna dijeron: Levántate tú y cae sobre nosotros; porque como es el hombre, así es su fortaleza¹. Y se levantó Gedeón y mató a Zeba y a Zalmuna^a, y tomó los adornos de media luna que sus camellos llevaban al cuello^b.

22 Y los hombres de Israel dijeron a Gedeón: Reina sobre nosotros, tú y tus hijos, y también el hijo de tu hijo, porque nos has librado de la mano de Madián. 23 Pero Gedeón les dijo: No reinaré sobre vosotros, ni tampoco reinará sobre vosotros mi hijo; el SEÑOR reinará sobre vosotros^a. 24 Les dijo también Gedeón: Quisiera pediros¹ que cada uno de vosotros me dé un zarcillo² de su botín (pues tenían zarcillos de oro, porque eran ismaelitas^a). 25 Y ellos dijeron: De cierto te los daremos. Y tendieron un manto, y cada uno de ellos echó allí un zarcillo de su botín. 26 El peso de los zarcillos de oro que él pidió fue de mil setecientos siclos¹ de oro, sin contar los adornos de media luna, los pendientes y los vestidos de púrpura que llevaban los reyes de Madián y sin contar los collares que llevaban sus camellos al cuello. 27 Y Gedeón hizo de ello un efod^a, y lo colocó en Ofra, su ciudad, con el cual todo Israel se prostituyó allí, y esto vino a ser ruina¹ para Gedeón y su casa. 28 Así fue subyugado Madián delante de los hijos de Israel, y ya no volvieron a levantar cabeza. Y el país tuvo descanso por cuarenta años en los días de Gedeón.

29 Entonces Jerobaal^a, hijo de Joás, fue y habitó en su casa. 30 Y tuvo Gedeón setenta hijos^a que fueron sus descendientes directos¹, porque tuvo muchas mujeres. 31 La concubina que tenía en Siquem también le dio un hijo, y le puso por nombre Abimelec. 32 Y murió Gedeón, hijo de Joás, a una edad avanzada y fue sepultado en el sepulcro de su padre Joás, en Ofra de los abiezeritas.

33 Y sucedió que al morir Gedeón, los hijos de Israel volvieron a prostituirse con los baales^a e hicieron a Baal-berit su dios^b. 34 Y los hijos de Israel se olvidaron del SEÑOR su Dios^a que los había librado de manos de todos sus enemigos en derredor; 35 tampoco mostraron bondad a la casa de Jerobaal^a, es decir, Gedeón, conforme a todo el bien que él había hecho a Israel.

And the men of the tribe of Ephraim said to Gideon, “^aWhat is this thing that you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight with Midian?” And they quarreled with him vehemently. 2 But he said to them, “What have I done now that is so significant in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning (leftovers) of the grapes of your tribe of Ephraim better than the vintage (entire harvest) of my clan of Abiezer? 3 God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he made this statement.

4 So Gideon came ^ato the Jordan and crossed over the river, he and the three hundred men who were with him—exhausted, yet still pursuing the enemy. 5 He said to the men of ^aSuccoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me since they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.” 6 But the leaders of Succoth said, “^aAre Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 Gideon said, “For that response, ^awhen the LORD has handed over Zebah and Zalmunna to me, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns and briars of the wilderness.” 8 He went from there up to ^aPenuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 So Gideon said also to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, ^aI will tear down this tower.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies, about fifteen thousand fighting men, all who were left of the entire army of the sons of the east; ^afor a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen. 11 Gideon went up by the route of those who lived in tents to the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their camp when the camp was unsuspecting. 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and terrified the entire army.

13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. 14 He captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And the youth wrote down for him the names of the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 He came to the men of Succoth and said, “Look here, Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘^aAre Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’” 16 He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briars, and with them he ¹punished the men of Succoth. 17 ^aHe tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18 Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they replied, “They were like you, each one of them resembled the son of a king.” 19 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 So to humiliate them Gideon said to Jether his firstborn, “Stand up, and kill them!” But the youth did not draw his sword, because he was afraid, for he was still just a boy. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself and strike us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” ^aSo Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and ^btook the crescent amulets that were on their camels’ necks.

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule as king over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have rescued us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; ^athe LORD shall rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “I would make a request of you, that each one of you give me an earring from his spoil.” For the Midianites had gold earrings, because they were ^1aIshmaelites who customarily wore them. 25 They answered, “We will certainly give them to you.” And they spread out a garment, and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was ¹seventeen hundred shekels of gold, apart from the crescent amulets and pendants and the purple garments which were worn by the kings of Midian, and apart from the chains that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made all the golden earrings into ^aan ephod a sacred, high priest’s garment, and put it in his city of Ophrah, and all Israel ¹worshiped it as an idol there, and ²it became a trap for Gideon and his household.

28 So Midian was subdued and humbled before the sons of Israel, and they no longer lifted up their heads in pride. And the land was at rest for forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 ^aJerubbaal (Gideon) the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had ^aseventy sons born to him, because he had many wives. 31 And his ¹concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech. 32 Gideon the son of Joash died at a good advanced age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the ^aIsraelites again played the prostitute with the Baals, and made ^bBaal-berith their god. 34 And the Israelites ^adid not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side; 35 ^anor did they show kindness to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done for Israel.

Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “^aWhat is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him vigorously. 2 But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their ¹anger toward him subsided when he said ²that.

4 Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came ^ato the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing. 5 He said to the men of ^aSuccoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6 The leaders of Succoth said, “^1aAre the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 Gideon said, “¹All right, ^awhen the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will ²thrash your ³bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8 He went up from there to ^1aPenuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 So he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I return safely, ^aI will tear down this tower.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their ¹armies with them, about 15,000 men, all who were left of the entire ²army of the sons of the east; ^afor the fallen were 120,000 ³swordsmen. 11 Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and ¹attacked the camp when the camp was ²unsuspecting. 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole ¹army.

13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle ¹by the ascent of Heres. 14 And he captured a youth ¹from Succoth and questioned him. Then the youth wrote down for him the princes of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 He came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘^1aAre the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, 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 he ¹disciplined the men of Succoth with them. 17 ^aHe tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “They were like you, each one ¹resembling the son of a king.” 19 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them.” But the youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself, and fall on us; for as the man, so is his strength.” ^aSo Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and ^btook the crescent ornaments which were on their camels’ necks.

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; ^athe LORD shall rule over you.” 24 Yet Gideon said to them, “I would ¹request of you, that each of you give me ²an earring from his spoil.” (For they had gold earrings, because they were ^aIshmaelites.) 25 They said, “We will surely give them.” So they spread out a garment, and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil. 26 The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made it into ^aan ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household.

28 So Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel, and they did not lift up their heads anymore. And the land was undisturbed for forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 Then ^aJerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had ^aseventy sons who ¹were his direct descendants, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he ¹named him Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, ^athat the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made ^bBaal-berith their god. 34 Thus the sons of Israel ^adid not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 ^anor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accord with all the good that he had done to Israel.