Judges 8:1-9 ▼

1 Later on, the descendants of Ephraim spoke to Gideon. They argued vehemently, |What are you doing to us? You never called us! But you went out to fight Midian!|

2 |What have I accomplished compared to you?| he responded. |Isn't what's left from Ephraim's harvest better than the best vintage of Abiezer?

3 God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the leaders of Midian, into your control. What was I able to do compared to you?| When he said this, their anger calmed down.

4 Meanwhile, Gideon and the 300 soldiers with him came to the Jordan, exhausted but continuing their pursuit.

5 He told the men of Succoth, |Please give loaves of bread to the soldiers who are following behind me. They're tired, and I'm pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.|

6 But the officials of Succoth replied, |Do you have Zebah and Zalmunna in custody already, so that we should give food to your army?|

7 So Gideon responded, |Okay then, but when the LORD has turned over Zebah and Zalmunna into my control, I'm going to whip you with thorns and briers from the desert!|

8 Then he left there to go to Penuel and asked the same thing from them, but the men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth did.

9 So he responded the same way to the men of Penuel, |When I come back safely, I'm going to tear down this tower.|