1 The|strong="H0559" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Ephraim|strong="H0669" were|strong="H0376" angry with|strong="H0854" Gideon|strong="H0559". When|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" found him|strong="H0413", they|strong="H3588" asked|strong="H0559", “Why|strong="H4100" did|strong="H6213" you|strong="H3588" treat|strong="H6213" us|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2088" way|strong="H1697"? Why|strong="H4100" didn’t you|strong="H3588" call|strong="H7121" us|strong="H0413" when|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" went|strong="H1980" to|strong="H0413" fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" Midianites|strong="H4080"?”
2 But|strong="H3808" Gideon|strong="H0559" answered|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" men|strong="H0559" of|strong="H0559" Ephraim|strong="H0669", “I|strong="H6258" have|strong="H6258" not|strong="H3808" done|strong="H6213" as|strong="H6258" well|strong="H2896" as|strong="H6258" you|strong="H6213". You|strong="H6213" people|strong="H3808" of|strong="H0559" Ephraim|strong="H0669" have|strong="H6258" a|strong="H3808" much|strong="H4100" better|strong="H2896" harvest|strong="H1210" than|strong="H3808" my|strong="H6258" family, the|strong="H0559" Abiezers. At|strong="H0413" harvest|strong="H1210" time|strong="H6258" you|strong="H6213" leave more|strong="H3808" grapes in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" vineyard than|strong="H3808" my|strong="H6258" family gathers! Isn’t|strong="H3808" that|strong="H0559" true?
3 In|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" same|strong="H2088" way|strong="H1697" you|strong="H5414" have|strong="H1697" a|strong="H5414" better|strong="H3027" harvest now|strong="H2088". God|strong="H0430" allowed|strong="H3201" you|strong="H5414" to|strong="H1696" capture Oreb|strong="H6159" and|strong="H0430" Zeeb|strong="H2062", the|strong="H0853" leaders|strong="H8269" of|strong="H0430" Midian|strong="H4080". How|strong="H4100" can|strong="H3201" I|strong="H5414" compare my|strong="H5414" success with|strong="H5921" what|strong="H4100" you|strong="H5414" did|strong="H6213"?” When|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H8269" of|strong="H0430" Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer|strong="H1697", they|strong="H5921" were|strong="H1697" not|strong="H3201" as|strong="H1697" angry as|strong="H1697" they|strong="H5921" had|strong="H0430" been.
4 Then|strong="H0935" Gideon|strong="H1439" and|strong="H0935" his|strong="H0834" 300 men|strong="H0376" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" Jordan|strong="H3383" River and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" across|strong="H5674" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" other|strong="H0376" side|strong="H3383", but|strong="H0376" they|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" tired|strong="H5889" and|strong="H0935" hungry.
5 Gideon|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" city of|strong="H4428" Succoth|strong="H5523", “Give|strong="H5414" my|strong="H5414" soldiers|strong="H0376" something|strong="H3899" to|strong="H0559" eat. They|strong="H1992" are|strong="H0834" very tired|strong="H5889". We|strong="H3588" are|strong="H0834" still|strong="H0559" chasing|strong="H0310" Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H4428" Zalmunna|strong="H6759", kings|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Midian|strong="H4080".”
6 But|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0559" leaders|strong="H8269" of|strong="H3027" the|strong="H0559" city of|strong="H3027" Succoth|strong="H5523" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Gideon|strong="H0559", “Why|strong="H3588" should|strong="H3588" we|strong="H3588" give|strong="H5414" your|strong="H5414" soldiers something|strong="H3899" to|strong="H0559" eat? You|strong="H3588" haven’t caught Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H3027" Zalmunna|strong="H6759" yet|strong="H3588".”
7 Then|strong="H0853" Gideon|strong="H1439" said|strong="H0559", “The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" help me|strong="H5414" capture Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H3068" Zalmunna|strong="H6759". And|strong="H3068" since|strong="H3651" you|strong="H5414" would|strong="H3068" not give|strong="H5414" us|strong="H5414" any|strong="H5414" food, I|strong="H5414" will|strong="H3068" come back and|strong="H3068" beat you|strong="H5414" with|strong="H0854" thorns|strong="H6975" and|strong="H3068" briers|strong="H1303" from|strong="H3027" the|strong="H0853" desert|strong="H4057".”
8 Gideon left|strong="H8033" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0376" Succoth|strong="H5523" and|strong="H0376" went|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0376" Penuel|strong="H6439". He|strong="H0834" asked|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Penuel|strong="H6439" for|strong="H0413" food, just|strong="H0834" as|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" asked|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Succoth|strong="H5523". But|strong="H6030" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Penuel|strong="H6439" gave Gideon the|strong="H0853" same|strong="H0853" answer|strong="H6030" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Succoth|strong="H5523" had|strong="H0834" given.
9 So|strong="H1571" Gideon|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Penuel|strong="H6439", “After I|strong="H2088" win the|strong="H0853" victory|strong="H1571", I|strong="H2088" will|strong="H0376" come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" here|strong="H2088" and|strong="H7725" pull|strong="H5422" this|strong="H2088" tower|strong="H4026" down|strong="H5422".”
10 Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H1121" Zalmunna|strong="H6759" and|strong="H1121" their|strong="H3605" army|strong="H4264" were|strong="H1121" in|strong="H0376" the|strong="H3605" city of|strong="H1121" Karkor. Their|strong="H3605" army|strong="H4264" had|strong="H0376" 15,000 soldiers|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0376" it|strong="H1121". These|strong="H3605" soldiers|strong="H0376" were|strong="H1121" all|strong="H3605" who|strong="H3605" were|strong="H1121" left|strong="H3498" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" army|strong="H4264" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" east|strong="H6924". 120,000 strong soldiers|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1121" that|strong="H3605" army|strong="H4264" had|strong="H0376" already been|strong="H3605" killed|strong="H2719".
11 Gideon|strong="H1439" and|strong="H1870" his|strong="H1961" men|strong="H4264" used|strong="H1961" Tent|strong="H0168" Dwellers’ Road|strong="H1870", which is|strong="H1870" east|strong="H6924" of|strong="H0168" the|strong="H0853" cities of|strong="H0168" Nobah|strong="H5025" and|strong="H1870" Jogbehah|strong="H3011" and|strong="H1870" attacked|strong="H5221" the|strong="H0853" enemy at|strong="H4264" Karkor. The|strong="H0853" enemy army|strong="H4264" did not|strong="H1961" expect the|strong="H0853" attack|strong="H5221".
12 Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H4428" Zalmunna|strong="H6759", kings|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" Midianites|strong="H4080", ran|strong="H5127" away|strong="H0310". But|strong="H4428" Gideon chased|strong="H7291" and|strong="H4428" caught|strong="H3920" them|strong="H0853". Gideon and|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H3605" defeated the|strong="H3605" enemy army|strong="H4264".
13 Then|strong="H7725" Gideon|strong="H1439" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Joash|strong="H3101" returned|strong="H7725" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H4480" battle|strong="H4421". He|strong="H4480" and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H7725" men|strong="H1121" returned|strong="H7725" by|strong="H7725" going|strong="H7725" through|strong="H4480" a|strong="H4480" mountain pass|strong="H7725" called the|strong="H4480" Pass|strong="H7725" of|strong="H1121" Heres.
14 Gideon captured|strong="H3920" a|strong="H0376" young|strong="H5288" man|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0376" Succoth|strong="H5523". He|strong="H0853" asked|strong="H7592" the|strong="H0853" young|strong="H5288" man|strong="H0376" some|strong="H0376" questions. The|strong="H0853" young|strong="H5288" man|strong="H0376" wrote|strong="H3789" down|strong="H3789" some|strong="H0376" names for|strong="H0413" Gideon. The|strong="H0853" young|strong="H5288" man|strong="H0376" wrote|strong="H3789" down|strong="H3789" the|strong="H0853" names of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" leaders|strong="H8269" and|strong="H0376" elders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0376" Succoth|strong="H5523". He|strong="H0853" gave Gideon the|strong="H0853" names of|strong="H0376" 77 men|strong="H0376".
15 When|strong="H3588" Gideon|strong="H0559" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0376" Succoth|strong="H5523", he|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" that|strong="H0834" city, “Here|strong="H2009" are|strong="H0834" Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H0935" Zalmunna|strong="H6759". You|strong="H0834" made|strong="H5414" fun of|strong="H0376" me|strong="H0413" by|strong="H3027" saying|strong="H0559", ‘Why|strong="H0834" should|strong="H0376" we|strong="H3588" give|strong="H5414" food|strong="H3899" to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H5414" tired soldiers|strong="H0376"? You|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3588" caught Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H0935" Zalmunna|strong="H6759" yet|strong="H3588".’”
16 Gideon took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" elders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H0376" Succoth|strong="H5523" and|strong="H0376" beat them|strong="H0853" with|strong="H3045" thorns|strong="H6975" and|strong="H0376" briers|strong="H1303" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" desert|strong="H4057".
17 Gideon also|strong="H0853" pulled|strong="H5422" down|strong="H5422" the|strong="H0853" tower|strong="H4026" in|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H0376" Penuel|strong="H6439" and|strong="H0376" killed|strong="H2026" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" living|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0376" that|strong="H0376" city|strong="H5892".
18 Then|strong="H0559" Gideon|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H1121" Zalmunna|strong="H6759", “You|strong="H0834" killed|strong="H2026" some|strong="H0376" men|strong="H0376" on|strong="H0413" Mount Tabor|strong="H8396". What|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" men|strong="H0376" like|strong="H3644"?”
19 Gideon|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559", “Those|strong="H1992" men|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1121" my|strong="H3068" brothers|strong="H0251", my|strong="H3068" mother’s|strong="H0517" sons|strong="H1121"! As|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" lives|strong="H2416", if|strong="H3863" you|strong="H0853" had|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" killed|strong="H2026" them|strong="H1992", I|strong="H0559" would|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" kill|strong="H2026" you|strong="H0853" now.”
20 Then|strong="H6965" Gideon|strong="H0559" turned to|strong="H0559" Jether|strong="H3500", his|strong="H3588" oldest|strong="H1060" son, and|strong="H6965" said|strong="H0559", “Kill|strong="H2026" these kings.” But|strong="H3588" Jether|strong="H3500" was|strong="H5288" only a|strong="H3588" boy|strong="H5288" and|strong="H6965" was|strong="H5288" afraid|strong="H3372", so|strong="H3808" he|strong="H3588" would|strong="H0559" not|strong="H3808" take|strong="H6965" out|strong="H6965" his|strong="H3588" sword|strong="H2719".
21 Then|strong="H6965" Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H6965" Zalmunna|strong="H6759" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Gideon|strong="H1439", “Come|strong="H6965" on|strong="H6965", kill|strong="H2026" us|strong="H3588" yourself|strong="H0859". You|strong="H0859" are|strong="H0834" a|strong="H3947" man|strong="H0376" and|strong="H6965" strong|strong="H1369" enough to|strong="H0559" do the|strong="H0853" job.” So|strong="H3947" Gideon|strong="H1439" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" and|strong="H6965" killed|strong="H2026" Zebah|strong="H2078" and|strong="H6965" Zalmunna|strong="H6759". Then|strong="H6965" Gideon|strong="H1439" took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" decorations shaped like|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" moon off|strong="H0853" their|strong="H3947" camels’|strong="H1581" necks|strong="H6677".
22 The|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H3478" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Gideon|strong="H1439", “You|strong="H0859" saved|strong="H3467" us|strong="H0413" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0559" Midianites|strong="H4080". So|strong="H1571" now|strong="H1571" rule|strong="H4910" over|strong="H0413" us|strong="H0413". We|strong="H3588" want you|strong="H0859", your|strong="H3588" son|strong="H1121", and|strong="H1121" your|strong="H3588" grandson|strong="H1121" to|strong="H0413" rule|strong="H4910" over|strong="H0413" us|strong="H0413".”
23 But|strong="H3808" Gideon|strong="H1439" told|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" Israelites, “The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3808" your|strong="H3068" ruler|strong="H4910". I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" rule|strong="H4910" over|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3808", and|strong="H1121" my|strong="H3068" son|strong="H1121" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" rule|strong="H4910" over|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3808".”
24 Some|strong="H4480" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0559" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Israel defeated were|strong="H0376" Ishmaelites|strong="H3459". And|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0559" Ishmaelite|strong="H3459" men|strong="H0376" wore gold|strong="H2091" earrings|strong="H5141". So|strong="H4480" Gideon|strong="H1439" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" Israelites, “I|strong="H3588" want you|strong="H3588" to|strong="H0413" do this|strong="H3588" one|strong="H0376" thing|strong="H3588" for|strong="H3588" me|strong="H0413". I|strong="H3588" want each|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" you|strong="H3588" to|strong="H0413" give|strong="H5414" me|strong="H0413" a|strong="H3588" gold|strong="H2091" earring|strong="H5141" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0559" things|strong="H1992" you|strong="H3588" took|strong="H5414" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" battle.”
25 The|strong="H0853" Israelites said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Gideon|strong="H0559", “We|strong="H8033" will|strong="H0376" gladly give|strong="H5414" you|strong="H5414" what you|strong="H5414" want.” So|strong="H5414" they|strong="H8033" put|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" coat down|strong="H7993" on|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" ground, and|strong="H0376" each|strong="H0376" man|strong="H0376" threw|strong="H7993" an|strong="H5414" earring|strong="H5141" onto the|strong="H0853" coat.
26 When|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0834" earrings|strong="H5141" were|strong="H0834" gathered up|strong="H5921", they|strong="H0834" weighed|strong="H4948" about|strong="H1961" 43 pounds. This|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H1961" include|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" other gifts the|strong="H0834" Israelites gave|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" Gideon. They|strong="H0834" also|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H1961" him|strong="H5921" jewelry|strong="H5188" shaped like|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0834" moon and|strong="H3967" jewelry|strong="H5188" shaped like|strong="H1961" teardrops. And|strong="H3967" they|strong="H0834" gave|strong="H1961" him|strong="H5921" purple|strong="H0713" robes|strong="H0899". The|strong="H0834" kings|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0834" Midianites|strong="H4080" had|strong="H0834" worn these|strong="H0834" things|strong="H1961". They|strong="H0834" also|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H1961" him|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" chains from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0834" camels|strong="H1581" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0834" Midianite|strong="H4080" kings|strong="H4428".
27 Gideon|strong="H1439" used|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" gold to|strong="H1961" make|strong="H6213" an|strong="H1961" ephod|strong="H0646", which|strong="H8033" he|strong="H0310" put|strong="H3322" in|strong="H1004" his|strong="H3605" hometown, the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892" called|strong="H8033" Ophrah|strong="H6084". All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" worshiped|strong="H0310" the|strong="H3605" ephod|strong="H0646". In|strong="H1004" this|strong="H3605" way|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" were|strong="H1961" not|strong="H1961" faithful to|strong="H1961" God—they|strong="H8033" worshiped|strong="H0310" the|strong="H3605" ephod|strong="H0646". The|strong="H3605" ephod|strong="H0646" became|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" trap|strong="H4170" that|strong="H3605" caused|strong="H1961" Gideon|strong="H1439" and|strong="H3478" his|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004" to|strong="H1961" sin.
28 The|strong="H6440" Midianites|strong="H4080" were|strong="H3478" forced to|strong="H3478" be|strong="H3808" under|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" rule of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6440" Israelites|strong="H3478". The|strong="H6440" Midianites|strong="H4080" did|strong="H3254" not|strong="H3808" cause trouble anymore|strong="H3254". And|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6440" land|strong="H0776" was|strong="H0776" at|strong="H3478" peace|strong="H8252" for|strong="H0776" 40 years|strong="H8141", as|strong="H3117" long|strong="H3117" as|strong="H3117" Gideon|strong="H1439" was|strong="H0776" alive.
29 Gideon son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Joash|strong="H3101" went|strong="H1004" home|strong="H1004".
30 Gideon|strong="H1439" had|strong="H1961" 70 sons|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" his|strong="H1961" own|strong="H1961". He|strong="H3588" had|strong="H1961" so|strong="H1961" many|strong="H7227" sons|strong="H1121" because|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" had|strong="H1961" many|strong="H7227" wives|strong="H0802".
31 He|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" a|strong="H7760" slave woman|strong="H8034" who|strong="H0834" lived in|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H1931" of|strong="H1121" Shechem|strong="H7927". He|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" a|strong="H7760" son|strong="H1121" by|strong="H1571" her|strong="H1571". He|strong="H0834" named|strong="H8034" that|strong="H0834" son|strong="H1121" Abimelech|strong="H0040".
32 So|strong="H4191" Gideon|strong="H1439" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Joash|strong="H3101" died|strong="H4191" at|strong="H4191" a|strong="H4191" good|strong="H2896" old|strong="H1121" age|strong="H1121". He|strong="H0001" was|strong="H1121" buried|strong="H6912" in|strong="H4191" the|strong="H4191" tomb|strong="H6913" that|strong="H1121" Joash|strong="H3101", his|strong="H4191" father|strong="H0001", owned. That|strong="H1121" tomb|strong="H6913" is|strong="H2896" in|strong="H4191" the|strong="H4191" city of|strong="H1121" Ophrah|strong="H6084", where the|strong="H4191" family|strong="H0001" of|strong="H1121" Abiezer lives.
33 As|strong="H0834" soon as|strong="H0834" Gideon|strong="H1439" died|strong="H4191", the|strong="H0834" Israelites|strong="H3478" again|strong="H7725" were|strong="H0834" not|strong="H1961" faithful to|strong="H4191" God|strong="H0430"—they|strong="H0834" followed|strong="H0310" Baal|strong="H1168". They|strong="H0834" made|strong="H7760" Baal|strong="H1168" Berith their|strong="H7760" god|strong="H0430".
34 The|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" remember|strong="H2142" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" their|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430", who|strong="H3605" had|strong="H3068" saved|strong="H5337" them|strong="H0853" from|strong="H3478" all|strong="H3605" their|strong="H3605" enemies|strong="H0341" living around|strong="H5439" them|strong="H0853".
35 The|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" were|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" loyal|strong="H2617" to|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Jerub-Baal|strong="H3378" (Gideon|strong="H1439"), even|strong="H3808" though he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" done|strong="H6213" many good|strong="H2896" things|strong="H3605" for|strong="H1004" them|strong="H6213".