Judges 6:1-9 ▼

1 The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD turned them over to Midian for seven years.

2 The Midianites overwhelmed Israel. Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds.

3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them.

4 They invaded the land and devoured its crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat, and they took away the sheep, oxen, and donkeys.

5 When they invaded with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They came to devour the land.

6 Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.

7 When the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help because of Midian,

8 he sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said to them, |This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'I brought you up from Egypt and took you out of that place of slavery.

9 I rescued you from Egypt's power and from the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave their land to you.