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.

Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “What is this you have done to us? Why did you not call us when you went to fight against Midian?” They were angry when they argued with him.

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?

But he said to them, “What have I done to compare with you? Are not the grapes that are left of Ephraim better than all the grapes gathered 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 the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, into your hands. What was I able to do to compare with you?” They were no longer angry when he 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.

Then Gideon and the 300 men with him came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were tired but they kept going.

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.”

Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “I ask of you, give loaves of bread to the people who are following me. For they are tired and weak. I am going after Zebah and Zalmunna, the 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?”

But the leaders of Succoth said, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, 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.”

Gideon said, “The Lord will give Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand. Then I will beat your bodies with the thorns and thistles from the desert.”

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.

From there he went up to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. The men of Penuel gave him the same answer as the men of Succoth.

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

So he said to the men of Penuel, “When I return safe, I will tear 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 them were their armies, about 15, 000 men. These were all who were left of the whole army of the people of the east. For 120, 000 men who fought with swords had been killed.

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.

Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents east of Nobah and Jogbehah. And he fought against the army by surprise.

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.

Zebah and Zalmunna ran away. Gideon went after them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. The whole army was afraid.

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

Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the way 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.

He caught a young man from Succoth and asked him questions. The young man wrote down for him the rulers and leaders of Succoth, 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?’”

Then Gideon came to the men of Succoth and said, “See, here are Zebah and Zalmunna. You laughed at me about these men, saying, ‘Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your weak and tired men?’”

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.

Then he took the leaders of the city and with thorns and thistles from the desert, he punished the men of Succoth.

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

Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed 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.”

Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “They were like you. Each one looked like 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.”

Gideon said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill 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.

Then he said to Jether his first-born son, “Stand up and kill them.” But the boy did not pick up his sword. He was afraid because he was still a boy.

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.

Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Stand up yourself and kill us. For as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon stood up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna. And he took the religious objects 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, both you and your son, and your grandson also. For you have set us free from the power 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.”

But 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.)

Gideon said to them, “I only ask that each of you give me the gold objects you have taken to be worn on the ear.” (They had objects to be worn on the ear 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 said, “For sure we will give them.” So they spread out a coat, and every one of them threw into it an object he had taken.

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.

The gold objects Gideon had asked for were as heavy as 1, 700 pieces of gold money. He took the objects and purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian also. And he took the religious objects that were around the 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.

Gideon made it into a holy vest and put it in his city, Ophrah. All Israel worshiped it there. So it became a trap to Gideon and those of his house.

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.

Midian was put under the power of the people of Israel. They did not lift up their heads any more. And the land had peace for forty years, during the life of Gideon. The Death of Gideon

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

Joash’s son Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) went and lived in his own house.

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

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.

The woman in Shechem who acted as his wife gave birth to Gideon’s son also. He was given the name 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 the son of Joash died when he was very old. He was buried in the grave of his father Joash, 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 people of Israel started again to worship the false gods of Baal. They 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;

The people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, Who had saved them from the power of all those around who hated them.

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

They did not show kindness to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon). They did not remember all the good he had done to Israel.