Judges 8:1-28

Judges 8:1-28

[1] And the men  of Ephraim  said  unto him, Why hast thou  served  us thus,  that thou calledst  us not, when thou 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 Ephraim  better  than the vintage  of Abiezer?  [3] God  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,  and passed over,  he, and the three  hundred  men  that were with him, faint,  yet pursuing  [5] And he said  unto the men  of Succoth,  Give,  I pray you, 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 Succoth  said,  Are the hands  of Zebah  and Zalmunna  now in thine hand,  that we should give  bread  unto thine army?  [7] And Gideon  said,  Therefore when the LORD  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:  of Penuel  answered  of Succoth  had answered  [9] And he spake  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  an 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 Jogbehah,  and smote  the host:  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 host.  [13] And Gideon  the son  of Joash  returned  from battle  before  the sun  [14] And caught  a young man  of the men  of Succoth,  and enquired  of him: and he described  unto him the princes  of Succoth,  and the elders  thereof, even threescore and seventeen  men.  [15] And he came  of Succoth,  and said,  Behold Zebah  and Zalmunna,  with whom ye did upbraid  me, saying,  Are the hands  of Zebah  and Zalmunna  now in thine hand,  that we should give  bread  [16] And he took  the elders  of the city,  and thorns  of the wilderness  and briers,  and with them he taught  of Succoth.  [17] And he beat down  the tower  of Penuel,  and slew  of the city.  [18] Then said  he unto Zebah  and Zalmunna,  What  were they whom ye slew  at Tabor?  And they answered,  As thou  art, so were they; each one  resembled  the children  of a king.  [19] And he said,  They were my brethren,  even the sons  of my mother:  as the LORD  liveth,  if  ye had saved them alive,  I would not slay  [20] And he said  unto Jether  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  thou, 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  unto Gideon,  Rule  thou over us, both thou, and thy son,  also: for thou hast delivered  us from the hand  of Midian.  [23] And Gideon  said  unto them, I will not rule  over you, neither shall my son  rule  over you: the LORD  shall rule  over you. [24] And Gideon  said  unto them, I would desire  a request  of you, that ye would give  me every man  the earrings  of his prey.  (For they had golden  earrings,  because they were Ishmaelites.)  [25] And they answered,  We will willingly  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 beside 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 Israel  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 Israel,  so that they lifted up  their heads  no more.  And the country  was in quietness  forty  years  in the days  of Gideon.