Judges 8:1-23 ▼

1 And the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us by not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him in strength.

2 And he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you?? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

3 Into your? hands God has delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do compared to you??” Then their spirit subsided toward him when he said this word.

4 And Gideon came to the Jordan, passing over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, exhausted and pursuing.

5 And he said to the men of Succoth, “Give, please, loaves of bread to the people who are at my feet, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

6 And the leaders of Succoth said, “Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

7 And Gideon said, “Therefore, when YHWH has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your? flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with briers.”

8 And he went up from there to Penuel, and spoke to them thus; and the men of Penuel answered him as had answered the men of Succoth.

9 And he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower.”

10 And Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the camp of the sons of the East; for had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword.

11 And Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked the camp, and the camp was in security.

12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them, and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and all the camp he made tremble.

13 And Gideon son of Joash returned from battle along the Ascent of Heres.

14 And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and questioned him, and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders—seventy-seven men.

15 And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you? taunted me, saying, ‘Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’”

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

17 And he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you? killed at Tabor?” And they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.”

19 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As YHWH lives, if you? had let them live, I would not kill you?.”

20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them.” And the youth would not draw his sword, for he was afraid, for he was still a youth.

21 And Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and kill us, for as the man, is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

22 And the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and also your son, and your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”

23 And Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you?, nor shall my son rule over you?. YHWH shall rule over you?.”