1. And the men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you done so to us, that you did not call us, when you went to fight with the Midianites? And they complained to him sharply.
2. And 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 Abi-ezer?
3. God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was diminished toward him, when he had said that.
4. And Gideon came to the Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
5. And he said to the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to 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 Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
7. And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then 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 likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
9. And he spoke also to 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 armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the armies of the children of the east: for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that 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 army: for the army felt secure.
12. And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and overcame all the army.
13. And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
14. And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described to him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even seventy seven men.
15. And he came to the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom you did reproach me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to 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 disciplined the men of Succoth.
17. And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
18. Then said he to 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 brothers, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
20. And he said to Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth did not draw his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
21. Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise yourself, 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 Israel said to Gideon, Rule 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 to them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
24. And Gideon said to them, I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the earrings of his spoil. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
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 seven hundred shekels of gold; besides ornaments, and pendants, and purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels' necks.
27. And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went there a whoring after it: which thing became a snare to Gideon, and to his house.
28. Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
29. And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
30. And Gideon had seventy sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
31. And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
32. And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.
33. And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.
34. And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
35. Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had showed to Israel.
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