Los hijos de Israel hicieron lo malo ante los ojos del SEÑOR^a, y el SEÑOR los entregó en manos de Madián^b por siete años. 2 Y el poder¹ de Madián prevaleció sobre Israel. Por causa de los madianitas, los hijos de Israel se hicieron escondites en las montañas y en las cavernas y en los lugares fortificados^a. 3 Porque sucedía que cuando los hijos de Israel sembraban, los madianitas venían¹ con los amalecitas y los hijos del oriente y subían contra ellos; 4 acampaban frente a ellos y destruían el producto de la tierra^a hasta¹ Gaza, y no dejaban sustento alguno en Israel, ni oveja, ni buey, ni asno^b. 5 Porque subían con su ganado y sus tiendas, y entraban como langostas en multitud^a, tanto ellos como sus camellos eran innumerables; y entraban en la tierra para devastarla. 6 Así fue empobrecido^a Israel en gran manera por causa de Madián, y los hijos de Israel clamaron al SEÑOR.

7 Y¹ cuando los hijos de Israel clamaron al SEÑOR a causa de Madián, 8 el SEÑOR envió a los hijos de Israel un profeta que les dijo: Así dice el SEÑOR, Dios de Israel: «Fui yo el que os hice subir de Egipto, y os saqué de la casa de servidumbre^1a. 9 Os libré de la mano de los egipcios y de la mano de todos vuestros opresores; los desalojé delante de vosotros, os di su tierra, 10 y os dije: “Yo soy el SEÑOR vuestro Dios. No temeréis a los dioses de los amorreos en cuya tierra habitáis^a”. Pero no me habéis obedecido¹».

11 Y vino el ángel del SEÑOR^a y se sentó debajo de la encina¹ que estaba en Ofra, la cual pertenecía a Joás abiezerita^b; y su hijo Gedeón^c estaba sacudiendo el trigo en el lagar, para esconderlo² de los madianitas. 12 Y el ángel del SEÑOR se le apareció, y le dijo: El SEÑOR está contigo, valiente guerrero. 13 Entonces Gedeón le respondió: Ah señor mío, si el SEÑOR está con nosotros, ¿por qué nos ha ocurrido todo esto? ¿Y dónde están todas sus maravillas que nuestros padres nos han contado, diciendo: «¿No nos hizo el SEÑOR subir de Egipto?». Pero ahora el SEÑOR nos ha abandonado, y nos ha entregado en mano¹ de los madianitas^a. 14 Y el SEÑOR lo miró¹, y dijo: Ve con esta tu fuerza^a, y libra a Israel de la mano² de los madianitas. ¿No te he enviado yo? 15 Y él respondió: Ah Señor, ¿cómo¹ libraré a Israel^a? He aquí que mi familia es la más pobre en Manasés^b, y yo el menor de la casa de mi padre. 16 Pero el SEÑOR le dijo: Ciertamente yo estaré contigo^a, y derrotarás¹ a Madián como a un solo hombre. 17 Y Gedeón le dijo: Si he hallado gracia ante tus ojos, muéstrame una señal de que eres tú el que hablas conmigo^a. 18 Te ruego que no te vayas de aquí hasta que yo vuelva a ti, y traiga mi ofrenda y la ponga delante de ti. Y él respondió: Me quedaré hasta que vuelvas.

19 Y Gedeón entró y preparó un cabrito y pan sin levadura de un efa¹ de harina; puso la carne en una cesta y² el caldo en un caldero, y se los llevó a él debajo de la encina^3a y se los presentó. 20 Y el ángel de Dios le dijo: Toma la carne y el pan sin levadura, ponlos sobre esta peña y derrama el caldo. Y así lo hizo. 21 Entonces el ángel del SEÑOR extendió la punta de la vara que estaba en su mano y tocó la carne y el pan sin levadura; y subió fuego de la roca que consumió la carne y el pan sin levadura^a. Y el ángel del SEÑOR desapareció¹ de su vista. 22 Al ver Gedeón que era el ángel del SEÑOR, dijo¹: ¡Ay de mí, Señor DIOS²! Porque ahora he visto al ángel del SEÑOR cara a cara^a. 23 Y el SEÑOR le dijo: La paz sea contigo, no temas; no morirás. 24 Y Gedeón edificó allí un altar al SEÑOR y lo llamó El SEÑOR es Paz¹, el cual permanece en Ofra de los abiezeritas hasta hoy^a.

25 Sucedió que aquella misma noche el SEÑOR le dijo: Toma el novillo de tu padre y otro¹ novillo de siete años; derriba el altar de Baal que pertenece a tu padre y corta la Asera^2a que está junto a él; 26 edifica después, en debida forma, un altar al SEÑOR tu Dios sobre la cumbre de este peñasco; toma el segundo novillo y ofrece holocausto con la leña de la Asera que has cortado. 27 Gedeón tomó diez hombres de sus siervos e hizo como el SEÑOR le había dicho; y sucedió, que como temía mucho a la casa de su padre y a los hombres de la ciudad para hacerlo de día, lo hizo de noche.

28 Cuando los hombres de la ciudad se levantaron temprano en la mañana, he aquí, el altar de Baal había sido derribado y cortada la Asera que estaba junto a él, y el segundo novillo había sido ofrecido en el altar que se había edificado. 29 Y se dijeron unos a otros: ¿Quién ha hecho esto? Y cuando buscaron e inquirieron, dijeron: Gedeón, hijo de Joás, ha hecho esto. 30 Entonces los hombres de la ciudad dijeron a Joás: Saca a tu hijo para que muera, porque ha derribado el altar de Baal, y ciertamente ha cortado la Asera que estaba a su lado. 31 Pero Joás dijo a todos los que estaban contra él: ¿Contenderéis vosotros por Baal, o lo libraréis? A cualquiera que contienda por él, se le dará muerte antes de llegar la mañana. Si es un dios, que contienda por sí mismo, porque alguien ha derribado su altar. 32 Por tanto, aquel día Gedeón¹ fue llamado Jerobaal^a, es decir, que Baal contienda contra él, porque había derribado su altar.

33 Pero todos los madianitas, los amalecitas y los hijos del oriente se reunieron, y cruzaron y acamparon en el valle de Jezreel^a. 34 Y el Espíritu del SEÑOR vino sobre^1a Gedeón, yeste tocó la trompeta^b y los abiezeritas se juntaron para seguirle. 35 Envió mensajeros por todo Manasés, que también se juntó para seguirle; y envió mensajeros a Aser, a Zabulón y a Neftalí^a, que subieron a su encuentro^b.

36 Entonces Gedeón dijo a Dios: Si has de librar a Israel por mi mano^a, como has dicho, 37 he aquí, yo pondré un vellón de lana en la era. Si hay rocío solamente en el vellón y toda la tierra queda seca, entonces sabré que librarás a Israel por mi mano, como has dicho. 38 Y así sucedió. Cuando se levantó temprano en la mañana, exprimió el vellón y escurrió el rocío del vellón, un tazón lleno de agua. 39 Y Gedeón dijo a Dios: No se encienda tu ira^a contra mí si hablo otra vez; te ruego que me permitas hacer otra vez una prueba con el vellón; que ahora quede seco el vellón y haya rocío en toda la tierra. 40 Así lo hizo Dios aquella noche, porque solamente quedó seco el vellón y había rocío en toda la tierra.

Then the sons of Israel ^adid what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD handed them over to ^bMidian for seven years. 2 The ¹power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves ^athe dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 3 For whenever Israel had sown, the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the ¹people of the east and ²march against them. 4 So they would camp against them and ^adestroy the produce of the earth ¹as far as Gaza, and ^bleave no sustenance in Israel, nor a sheep, ox, or donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in ^alike locusts in number, and both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to ruin it. 6 So Israel was brought ^avery low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD.

7 Now it came about, when the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD on account of Midian, 8 that the LORD sent a prophet to the sons of Israel, and ^ahe said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘It was I who brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of ¹slavery. 9 And I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians, and from the hands of all your oppressors, and I drove them out from you and gave you their land, 10 and I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; you ^ashall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.” But you have not ¹obeyed Me.’”

11 Then ^athe angel of the LORD came and sat under the ¹oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the ^bAbiezrite, as his son ^cGideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, valiant warrior.” 13 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?’ But ^anow the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” 14 And the LORD ¹looked at him and said, “^aGo in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” 15 ^aBut he said to Him, “O Lord, ¹how am I to save Israel? Behold, my family is the least in ^bManasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” 16 ^aYet the LORD said to him, “I will certainly be with you, and you will ¹defeat Midian as one man.” 17 So ¹Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then perform for me ^aa sign that it is You speaking with me. 18 Please do not depart from here until I come back to You, and bring out my offering and lay it before You.” And He said, “I will remain until you return.”

19 Then Gideon went in and ^aprepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ¹ephah of flour; he put the meat in a basket ²and the broth in a pot, and brought them out to him under the ³oak and presented them. 20 And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and ^afire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD ¹vanished from his sight. 22 ^aWhen Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD, ¹he said, “Oh, Lord ²GOD! For I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” 23 But the LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it ¹The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still ^ain Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 Now on the same night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull ¹and a second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the ^2aAsherah that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly way, and take a second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.” 27 Then Gideon took ten men from his servants and did as the LORD had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night.

28 When the people of the city got up early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal had been torn down, and the Asherah which had been beside it had been cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the altar which had been built. 29 So they said to one another, “Who did this thing?” And when they searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash did this thing.” 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has torn down the altar of Baal, and indeed, he has cut down the Asherah which was beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal, or will you save him? Whoever will contend for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, since someone has torn down his altar!” 32 Therefore on that day he named ¹Gideon ^aJerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he had torn down his altar.

33 Then all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the ¹people of the east assembled together; and they crossed over and camped in ^athe Valley of Jezreel. 34 So ^athe Spirit of the LORD ¹covered Gideon like clothing; and he ^bblew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout Manasseh, and they also were called together to follow him; and he sent messengers to Asher, ^aZebulun, and Naphtali, and ^bthey came up to meet them.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “^aIf You are going to save Israel ¹through me, as You have spoken, 37 behold, I am putting a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will save Israel ¹through me, as You have spoken.” 38 And it was so. When he got up early the next morning and wrung out the fleece, he wrung the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “^aDo not let Your anger burn against me, so that I may speak only one more time; please let me put You to the test only one more time with the fleece: let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.” 40 And God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground.

Then the sons of Israel ^adid what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of ^bMidian seven years. 2 The ¹power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves ^athe dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 3 For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and ¹go against them. 4 So they would camp against them and ^adestroy the produce of the earth ¹as far as Gaza, and ^bleave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in ^alike locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it. 6 So Israel was brought ^avery low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD.

7 Now it came about when the sons of Israel cried to the LORD on account of Midian, 8 that the LORD sent a prophet to the sons of Israel, and ^ahe said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘It was I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of ¹slavery. 9 I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land, 10 and I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; you ^ashall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not ¹obeyed Me.”’”

11 Then ^athe angel of the LORD came and sat under the ¹oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the ^bAbiezrite as his son ^cGideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” 13 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But ^anow the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The LORD ¹looked at him and said, “^aGo in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” 15 ^aHe said to Him, “O Lord, ¹how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in ^bManasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” 16 ^aBut the LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall ¹defeat Midian as one man.” 17 So ¹Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me ^aa sign that it is You who speak with me. 18 Please do not depart from here, until I come back to You, and bring out my offering and lay it before You.” And He said, “I will remain until you return.”

19 Then Gideon went in and ^aprepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ¹ephah of flour; he put the meat in a basket ²and the broth in a pot, and brought them out to him under the ³oak and presented them. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and ^afire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD ¹vanished from his sight. 22 ^aWhen Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD, ¹he said, “Alas, O Lord ²GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” 23 The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it ¹The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still ^ain Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 Now on the same night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull ¹and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the ^2aAsherah that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly manner, and take a second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.” 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night.

28 When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah which was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar which had been built. 29 They said to one another, “Who did this thing?” And when they searched about and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash did this thing.” 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has torn down the altar of Baal, and indeed, he has cut down the Asherah which was beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal, or will you deliver him? Whoever will ¹plead for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar.” 32 Therefore on that day he named him ^aJerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he had torn down his altar.

33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the sons of the east assembled themselves; and they crossed over and camped in ^athe valley of Jezreel. 34 So ^athe Spirit of the LORD ¹came upon Gideon; and he ^bblew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, and they also were called together to follow him; and he sent messengers to Asher, ^aZebulun, and Naphtali, and ^bthey came up to meet them.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “^aIf You will deliver Israel ¹through me, as You have spoken, 37 behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel ¹through me, as You have spoken.” 38 And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “^aDo not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.” 40 God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground.

Then the Israelites ^adid evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hand of ^bMidian for seven years. 2 The powerful hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves ^athe dens (hideouts) which were in the mountains, and the caves and the mountain strongholds. 3 For it was whenever Israel had sown their seed that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the people of the east and go up against them. 4 So they would camp against them and ^adestroy the crops of the land as far as Gaza, and ^bleave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, and they would come in as ^anumerous as locusts; both they and their camels were innumerable. So they came into the land to devastate it. 6 So Israel was greatly ^aimpoverished because of the Midianites, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.

7 Now it came about when they cried out to the LORD because of Midian, 8 that the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites, and ^ahe said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. 9 And I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land, 10 and I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; you ^ashall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.” But you have not listened to and obeyed My voice.’”

11 Now ^athe ¹Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the ^bAbiezrite, and his son ^cGideon was beating wheat in the wine press instead of the threshing floor to hide it and save it from the Midianites. 12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O brave man.” 13 But Gideon said to him, “Please my lord, if the LORD is with us, then why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wondrous works which our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But ^anow the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The LORD turned to him and said, “^aGo in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” 15 ^aBut Gideon said to Him, “Please Lord, how am I to rescue Israel? Behold, my family is the least significant in ^bManasseh, and I am the youngest (smallest) in my father’s house.” 16 ^aThe LORD answered him, “I will certainly be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as if they were only one man.” 17 Gideon replied to Him, “If I have found any favor in Your sight, then show me ^aa sign that it is You who speaks with me. 18 Please do not depart from here until I come back to You, and bring my offering and place it before You.” And He said, “I will wait until you return.”

19 Then Gideon went and ^aprepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket and the broth in a pot, and he brought the food to Him under the oak (terebinth) and presented it. 20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth over them.” And he did so. 21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire ^aflared up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the Angel of the LORD vanished from his sight. 22 ^aWhen Gideon realized without any doubt that He was the Angel of the LORD, he declared, “¹Oh no, Lord GOD! For now I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face and I am doomed!” 23 The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still ^ain Ophrah, of the Abiezrites.

25 Now on that same night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down ¹the ^aAsherah that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this mountain stronghold with stones laid down in an orderly way. Then take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice using the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.” 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did just as the LORD had told him; but because he was too afraid of his father’s household (relatives) and the men of the city to do it during daylight, he did it at night.

28 Early the next morning when the men of the city got up, they discovered that the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah which was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar which had been built. 29 So they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they searched about and inquired, they were told, “Gideon the son of Joash did it.” 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, so that he may be executed, because he has torn down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah which was beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you ¹plead for Baal? Will you save him? Whoever pleads for Baal shall be put to death while it is still morning. If Baal is a god, let him defend himself, because someone has torn down his altar.” 32 Therefore on that day he named Gideon ^aJerubbaal, ¹meaning, “Let Baal plead,” because he had torn down his altar.

33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east assembled together; and they crossed over the Jordan and camped in ^athe Valley of Jezreel. 34 So ^athe Spirit of the LORD ¹clothed Gideon and empowered him; and he ^bblew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together as a militia to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout the tribe of Manasseh, and the fighting men were also called together to follow him; and he sent messengers to the tribes of Asher, ^aZebulun, and Naphtali, and ^bthey came up to meet them.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “^aIf You are going to rescue Israel through me, as You have spoken, 37 behold, I will put a fleece of freshly sheared wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground around it, then I will know that You will rescue Israel through me, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he got up early the next morning and squeezed the dew out of the fleece, he wrung from it a bowl full of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “^aDo not let your anger burn against me, so that I may speak once more. Please let me make a test once more with the fleece; now let only the fleece be dry, and let there be dew on all the ground.” 40 God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and there was dew on all the ground around it.