Judges 8

1 And the men of Efrayim said unto him, “Why have you served us thus, that you calledst us not, when you wentest to fight with the Midianites?” And they did chide with him sharply.

2 And he said unto them, “What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Efrayim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

3 God (Elohim) hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison of you?” Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

4 And Gideon came to Jordan (Yarden), and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

5 And he said unto the men of Sukkot, “Please give loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”

6 And the princes of Sukkot said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread unto your army?”

7 And Gideon said, “Therefore when יהוה hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”

8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Sukkot had answered him.

9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower!”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east; for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Yogbehah, and smote the camp; for the camp was secure.

12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the army.

13 And Gideon the son of Yoash returned from battle before the sun was up,

14 And caught a young man of the men of Sukkot, and enquired of him; and he described unto him the princes of Sukkot, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.

15 And he came unto the men of Sukkot, and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom you did upbraid me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread unto your men that are weary?’”

16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Sukkot.

17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, “What manner of men were they whom you slew at Tabor?” And they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.”

19 And he said, “They were my brethren, the sons of my mother; as יהוה liveth, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you.”

20 And he said unto Yeter his firstborn, “Up, and slay them.” But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise you, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

22 Then the men of Yisrael said unto Gideon, “Rule you over us, both you, and your son, and your son’s son also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”

23 And Gideon said unto them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; יהוה shall rule over you.”

24 And Gideon said unto them, “I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the earrings of his prey.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites (Yishmaelim))

25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah; and all Yisrael went thither a whoring after it; which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Yisrael, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 And Yerubaal the son of Yoash went and dwelt in his own house.

30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons (seventy) of his body begotten; for he had many wives.

31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech (Avimelekh).

32 And Gideon the son of Yoash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Yoash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Yisrael turned again, and went a whoring after Baals (Baalim), and made 33eBaal-Berit (“Lord of Covenant”) their god (elohim).

34 And the children of Yisrael remembered not יהוה their God (Elohim), who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side;

35 Nor shewed they kindness to the house of Yerubaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Yisrael.