Israel Delivered from the Midianites
Judges 8, verse 1. The men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why did you not tell us what you were doing when you went to war with Midian?” They reprimanded him sharply. Judges 8, verse 2. So he said to them, “What could I do in comparison with what you now do? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? Judges 8, verse 3. The Lord has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what could I do in comparison with what you do?” Their spirit toward him became calm when he spoke this word. Judges 8, verse 4. When Gideon came to the River Jordan, he and the three hundred men with him crossed over—hungry, but still pursuing. Judges 8, verse 5. Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give bread to feed this army of men that follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.” Judges 8, verse 6. And the leaders of Succoth said, “Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” Judges 8, verse 7. So Gideon said, “Therefore when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will then tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with the brier bush!” Judges 8, verse 8. From there he went up to Penuel, requesting the same and in the same way. The men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth previously answered. Judges 8, verse 9. And Gideon said to the men of Penuel, “When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower!” Judges 8, verse 10. Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor with their armies, about fifteen thousand, all that remained of the entire army of foreigners; they that fell were one hundred twenty thousand men who drew the sword. Judges 8, verse 11. Then Gideon traveled the road eastward of Nobah and Jogbehah, to where they dwelt in tents. Here he smote the army, and the camp was surrendering. Judges 8, verse 12. Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them, capturing the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. The last of the army was caught by surprise. Judges 8, verse 13. And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle, down from the battle line of Ares. Judges 8, verse 14. And he took prisoner a young man of the men of Succoth to interrogate him; and he wrote down for Gideon the names of the leaders of Succoth and of their elders, seventy-seven men. Judges 8, verse 15. Then Gideon came to the rulers of Succoth and said, “Look. Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you reproached me, saying, ‘Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand that we should give bread to your army?’” Judges 8, verse 16. And he seized the elders of the city, with the thorns of the wilderness and with the sharp thorns, and with them he flailed the men of the city. Judges 8, verse 17. Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. Judges 8, verse 18. And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “As you are, so they were in the appearance of a king's son.” Judges 8, verse 19. Then Gideon said, “They were my brothers and the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had kept them alive, I would not kill you.” Judges 8, verse 20. And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword, for he was afraid; for he was yet very young. Judges 8, verse 21. So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You rise up and face us, for your strength is that of a man.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments from their camels’ necks. Judges 8, verse 22. Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” Judges 8, verse 23. But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you. The Lord shall rule over you.” Judges 8, verse 24. Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each man would give me an earring from his plunder.” For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. Judges 8, verse 25. So they said, “We will gladly give them.” And he spread out his garment and each man threw down an earring from his plunder. Judges 8, verse 26. Now the weight of the gold earrings which he requested was one thousand five hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, garments, and purple robes worn by the kings of Midian, and the chains around the necks of their camels. Judges 8, verse 27. Then Gideon made it into an ephod and made a memorial of it in his city of Ephratha. Hereafter, Israel indulged in all types of sinful acts because of it. And to Gideon and to his house, it became a thorn. Judges 8, verse 28. Thus Midian was reduced in stature before the sons of Israel, and they lifted their heads no more. The country remained at peace for forty years in the days of Gideon. Judges 8, verse 29. Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelled in his own house.
Death of Gideon
Judges 8, verse 30. And Gideon begot seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. Judges 8, verse 31. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whom he called Abimelech. Judges 8, verse 32. Now Gideon the son of Joash died in his city, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ephratha of the Abiezrites. Judges 8, verse 33. So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made a covenant for themselves with Baal that he would be their god. Judges 8, verse 34. Thus the sons of Israel choose to no longer remember the Lord their God, He who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side; Judges 8, verse 35. nor did they show mercy to the house of Jerubbaal—that is, Gideon—in accordance with all the good he accomplished for Israel.