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 strongly contended with him. 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 grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God has given the princes 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 spoke this word.

4 Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came ^ato the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing. 5 And 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 But the princes of Succoth said, “^1aAre the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 And Gideon said, “Thus, ^awhen Yahweh has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will ¹thrash your ²bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8 So 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 camps with them, about 15,000 men, all who were left of the entire camp of the sons of the east; ^afor the fallen were 120,000 men who drew the sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of those who dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah and struck the camp when the camp was ¹unsuspecting. 12 Then Zebah and Zalmunna fled. And he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw the whole camp into utter fright.

13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle ¹by the ascent of Heres. 14 And he captured a youth from the men of Succoth and questioned him. So the youth wrote down for him the princes of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you reproached 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 Then he took the elders of the city as well as thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he ¹taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17 ^aAnd he 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 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh 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 smite us; for as the man, so is his might.” ^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 saved 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; ^aYahweh shall rule over you.” 24 Yet Gideon said to them, “I would ¹make one request of you, that each of you give me ²an earring from his spoil.” (For they had gold earrings because they were ^aIshmaelites.) 25 And 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 And 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 Then 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 quiet 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 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he ¹named him Abimelech. 32 Then Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

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

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.