1 T he men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you treated us this way, that you didn’t call us when you went to fight with Midian?” They rebuked him sharply.

And the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, Why have you treated us like this, not calling us when you went to fight with Midian? And they quarreled with him furiously.

2 H e said to them, “What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

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 Abiezer?

3 G od has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger toward him was abated when he had said that.

4 G ideon came to the Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing.

And Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the 300 men with him, faint yet pursuing.

5 H e said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

And he said to the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are faint, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

6 T he princes of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

And the princes of Succoth said, Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?

7 G ideon said, “Therefore when Yahweh has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”

And Gideon said, For that, when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!

8 H e went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.

And he went from there up to Penuel and made the same request, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had done.

9 H e spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

And said to the men of Penuel, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

10 N ow Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army—about 15, 000 men, all who were left of all the army of the sons of the east, for there had fallen 120, 000 men who drew the sword.

11 G ideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army; for the army was secure.

And Gideon went up by the route of those who dwelt in tents east of Nobah and Jogbehah and smote their camp, for the army thought itself secure.

12 Z ebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued them. He took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and confused all the army.

And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and terrified all the army.

13 G ideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.

Then Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres.

14 H e caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and its elders, seventy-seven men.

And he caught a young man of Succoth and inquired of him, and wrote down for him the officials of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.

15 H e came to the men of Succoth, and said, “See Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’”

And he came to the men of Succoth and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you scoffed at me, saying, Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are faint?

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

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

17 H e broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.

And he broke down the tower of Penuel and slew the men of the city.

18 T hen he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “They were like you. Each one resembled the children of a king.”

Then said to Zebah and Zalmunna, What kind of men were they whom you slew at Tabor? And they replied, They were like you, each of them resembled the son of a king.

19 H e said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”

And he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

20 H e said to Jether his firstborn, “Get up, and kill them!” But the youth didn’t draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.

And said to Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword, for he feared because he was yet a lad.

21 T hen Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise yourself and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose and slew Zebah and Zalmunna and took the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

22 T hen the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us—you and your son and your son’s son also—for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.

23 G ideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. Yahweh shall rule over you.”

And Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.

24 G ideon said to them, “I do have a request, that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

And Gideon said to them, Let me make a request of you—every man of you give me the earrings of his spoil. For had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.

25 T hey answered, “We will willingly give them.” They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his plunder into it.

And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and every man cast on it the earrings of his spoil.

26 T he weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1, 700 shekels of gold, besides the crescents and pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

27 G ideon made an ephod out of it, and put it in Ophrah, his city. Then all Israel played the prostitute with it there; and it became a snare to Gideon, and to his house.

And Gideon made an ephod of it, and put it in his city of Ophrah, and all Israel paid homage to it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.

28 S o Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

Thus was Midian subdued before the Israelites so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had peace and rest for forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 J erubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.

Jerubbaal (Gideon) son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

30 G ideon had seventy sons conceived from his body, for he had many wives.

Now Gideon had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives.

31 H is concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

And his concubine, who was in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech.

32 G ideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 A s soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again, and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.

As soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned again and played the harlot after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god.

34 T he children of Israel didn’t remember Yahweh their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;

And the Israelites did not remember the Lord their God, Who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;

35 n either did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.

Neither did they show kindness to the family of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, in return for all the good which he had done for Israel.