Judges 8 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] The 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. ^[2] He 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? ^[3] God 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. ^[4] Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing. ^[5] He 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.” ^[6] The princes of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” ^[7] Gideon 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.” ^[8] He 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. ^[9] He spoke also to the men 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 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. ^[11] Gideon 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 felt secure. ^[12] Zebah and Zalmunna fled and he pursued them. He took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and confused all the army. ^[13] Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres. ^[14] He 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. ^[15] He 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?’ ” ^[16] He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. ^[17] He broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city. ^[18] Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?”They answered, “They were like you. They all resembled the children of a king.” ^[19] He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” ^[20] He 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. ^[21] Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You 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. ^[22] Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you, your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.” ^[23] Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. Yahweh shall rule over you.” ^[24] Gideon 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.) ^[25] They answered, “We will willingly give them.” They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his plunder into it. ^[26] The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels^ⓘ of gold, in addition to the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their camels’ necks. ^[27] Gideon 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. ^[28] So 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. ^[29] Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. ^[30] Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body, for he had many wives. ^[31] His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. ^[32] Gideon 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. ^[33] As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god. ^[34] The children of Israel didn’t remember Yahweh their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side; ^[35] neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.

Footnotes

A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.32 Troy ounces, so 1700 shekels is about 17 kilograms or 37.4 pounds.

King James Version

^[1] And the menH376 of EphraimH669 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Why hast thouH4100 servedH6213(QalPerf) us thus,H1697 that thou calledstH7121(QalInf) us not, when thou wentestH1980(QalPerf) to fightH3898(NiphInf) with the Midianites?H4080 And they did chideH7378(QalImpf) with him sharply.H2394 ^[2] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, What have I doneH6213(QalPerf) now in comparison of you? [Is] not the gleaningH5955 of the grapes of EphraimH669 betterH2896 than the vintageH1210 of Abiezer?H44 ^[3] GodH430 hath deliveredH5414(QalPerf) into your handsH3027 the princesH8269 of Midian,H4080 OrebH6159 and Zeeb:H2062 and what was I ableH3201(QalPerf) to doH6213(QalInf) in comparison of you? Then their angerH7307 was abatedH7503(QalPerf) toward him, when he had saidH1697 that.H1696(PielInf) ^[4] And GideonH1439 cameH935(QalImpf) to Jordan,H3383 [and] passed over,H5674(QalActPtc) he, and the threeH7969 hundredH3967 menH376 that [were] with him, faint,H5889 yet pursuingH7291(QalActPtc) [them]. ^[5] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto the menH582 of Succoth,H5523 Give,H5414(QalImpv) I pray you, loavesH3603 of breadH3899 unto the peopleH5971 that followH7272 me; for they [be] faint,H5889 and I am pursuingH7291(QalActPtc) afterH310 ZebahH2078 and Zalmunna,H6759 kingsH4428 of Midian.H4080 ^[6] And the princesH8269 of SuccothH5523 said,H559(QalImpf) [Are] the handsH3709 of ZebahH2078 and ZalmunnaH6759 now in thine hand,H3027 that we should giveH5414(QalImpf) breadH3899 unto thine army?H6635 ^[7] And GideonH1439 said,H559(QalImpf) Therefore when the LordH3068 hath deliveredH5414(QalInf) ZebahH2078 and ZalmunnaH6759 into mine hand,H3027 then I will tearH1758(QalPerf) your fleshH1320 with the thornsH6975 of the wildernessH4057 and with briers.H1303 ^[8] And he went upH5927(QalImpf) thence to Penuel,H6439 and spakeH1696(PielImpf) unto them likewise:H2063 and the menH582 of PenuelH6439 answeredH6030(QalImpf) him as the menH582 of SuccothH5523 had answeredH6030(QalPerf) [him]. ^[9] And he spakeH559(QalImpf) also unto the menH582 of Penuel,H6439 saying,H559(QalInf) When I come againH7725(QalInf) in peace,H7965 I will break downH5422(QalImpf) this tower.H4026 ^[10] Now ZebahH2078 and ZalmunnaH6759 [were] in Karkor,H7174 and their hostsH4264 with them, about fifteenH2568 thousandH505 [men], all that were leftH3498(NiphPtc) of all the hostsH4264 of the childrenH1121 of the east:H6924 for there fellH5307(QalActPtc) an hundredH3967 and twentyH6242 thousandH505 menH376 that drewH8025(QalActPtc) sword.H2719 ^[11] And GideonH1439 went upH5927(QalImpf) by the wayH1870 of them that dweltH7931(QalPasPtc) in tentsH168 on the eastH6924 of NobahH5025 and Jogbehah,H3011 and smoteH5221(HiphImpf) the host:H4264 for the hostH4264 was secure.H983 ^[12] And when ZebahH2078 and ZalmunnaH6759 fled,H5127(QalImpf) he pursuedH7291(QalImpf) afterH310 them, and tookH3920(QalImpf) the twoH8147 kingsH4428 of Midian,H4080 ZebahH2078 and Zalmunna,H6759 and discomfitedH2729(HiphPerf) all the host.H4264 ^[13] And GideonH1439 the sonH1121 of JoashH3101 returnedH7725(QalImpf) from battleH4421 beforeH4608 the sunH2775 [was up], ^[14] And caughtH3920(QalImpf) a young manH5288 of the menH582 of Succoth,H5523 and enquiredH7592(QalImpf) of him: and he describedH3789(QalImpf) unto him the princesH8269 of Succoth,H5523 and the eldersH2205 thereof, [even] threescore and seventeenH7657 men.H376 ^[15] And he cameH935(QalImpf) unto the menH582 of Succoth,H5523 and said,H559(QalImpf) Behold ZebahH2078 and Zalmunna,H6759 with whom ye did upbraidH2778(PielPerf) me, saying,H559(QalInf) [Are] the handsH3709 of ZebahH2078 and ZalmunnaH6759 now in thine hand,H3027 that we should giveH5414(QalImpf) breadH3899 unto thy menH582 [that are] weary?H3287 ^[16] And he tookH3947(QalImpf) the eldersH2205 of the city,H5892 and thornsH6975 of the wildernessH4057 and briers,H1303 and with them he taughtH3045(HiphImpf) the menH582 of Succoth.H5523 ^[17] And he beat downH5422(QalPerf) the towerH4026 of Penuel,H6439 and slewH2026(QalImpf) the menH582 of the city.H5892 ^[18] Then saidH559(QalImpf) he unto ZebahH2078 and Zalmunna,H6759 WhatH375 manner of menH582 [were they] whom ye slewH2026(QalPerf) at Tabor?H8396 And they answered,H559(QalImpf) As thouH3644 [art], so [were] they; each oneH259 resembledH8389 the childrenH1121 of a king.H4428 ^[19] And he said,H559(QalImpf) They [were] my brethren,H251 [even] the sonsH1121 of my mother:H517 [as] the LordH3068 liveth,H2416 ifH3863 ye had saved them alive,H2421(HiphPerf) I would not slayH2026(QalPerf) you. ^[20] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto JetherH3500 his firstborn,H1060 Up,H6965(QalImpv) [and] slayH2026(QalImpv) them. But the youthH5288 drewH8025(QalPerf) not his sword:H2719 for he feared,H3372(QalPerf) because he [was] yet a youth.H5288 ^[21] Then ZebahH2078 and ZalmunnaH6759 said,H559(QalImpf) RiseH6965(QalImpv) thou, and fallH6293(QalImpv) upon us: for as the manH376 [is, so is] his strength.H1369 And GideonH1439 arose,H6965(QalImpf) and slewH2026(QalImpf) ZebahH2078 and Zalmunna,H6759 and took awayH3947(QalImpf) the ornamentsH7720 that [were] on their camels’H1581 necks.H6677 ^[22] Then the menH376 of IsraelH3478 saidH559(QalImpf) unto Gideon,H1439 RuleH4910(QalImpv) thou over us, both thou, and thy son,H1121 and thy son’sH1121 sonH1121 also: for thou hast deliveredH3467(HiphPerf) us from the handH3027 of Midian.H4080 ^[23] And GideonH1439 saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, I will not ruleH4910(QalImpf) over you, neither shall my sonH1121 ruleH4910(QalImpf) over you: the LordH3068 shall ruleH4910(QalImpf) over you. ^[24] And GideonH1439 saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, I would desireH7592(QalImpf) a requestH7596 of you, that ye would giveH5414(QalImpv) me every manH376 the earringsH5141 of his prey.H7998 (For they had goldenH2091 earrings,H5141 because they [were] Ishmaelites.H3459) ^[25] And they answered,H559(QalImpf) We will willinglyH5414(QalInf) giveH5414(QalImpf) [them]. And they spreadH6566(QalImpf) a garment,H8071 and did castH7993(HiphImpf) therein every manH376 the earringsH5141 of his prey.H7998 ^[26] And the weightH4948 of the goldenH2091 earringsH5141 that he requestedH7592(QalPerf) was a thousandH505 and sevenH7651 hundredH3967 [shekels] of gold;H2091 beside ornaments,H7720 and collars,H5188 and purpleH713 raimentH899 that [was] on the kingsH4428 of Midian,H4080 and beside the chainsH6060 that [were] about their camels’H1581 necks.H6677 ^[27] And GideonH1439 madeH6213(QalImpf) an ephodH646 thereof, and putH3322(HiphImpf) it in his city,H5892 [even] in Ophrah:H6084 and all IsraelH3478 went thither a whoringH2181(QalImpf) afterH310 it: which thing became a snareH4170 unto Gideon,H1439 and to his house.H1004 ^[28] Thus was MidianH4080 subduedH3665(NiphImpf) beforeH6440 the childrenH1121 of Israel,H3478 so that they lifted upH5375(QalInf) their headsH7218 no more.H3254(QalPerf) And the countryH776 was in quietnessH8252(QalImpf) fortyH705 yearsH8141 in the daysH3117 of Gideon.H1439 ^[29] And JerubbaalH3378 the sonH1121 of JoashH3101 wentH3212(QalImpf) and dweltH3427(QalImpf) in his own house.H1004 ^[30] And GideonH1439 had threescore and tenH7657 sonsH1121 of his bodyH3409 begotten:H3318(QalActPtc) for he had manyH7227 wives.H802 ^[31] And his concubineH6370 that [was] in Shechem,H7927 she also bareH3205(QalPerf) him a son,H1121 whose nameH8034 he calledH7760(QalImpf) Abimelech.H40 ^[32] And GideonH1439 the sonH1121 of JoashH3101 diedH4191(QalImpf) in a goodH2896 old age,H7872 and was buriedH6912(NiphImpf) in the sepulchreH6913 of JoashH3101 his father,H1 in OphrahH6084 of the Abiezrites.H33 ^[33] And it came to pass, as soon as GideonH1439 was dead,H4191(QalPerf) that the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 turned again,H7725(QalImpf) and went a whoringH2181(QalImpf) afterH310 Baalim,H1168 and madeH7760(QalImpf) BaalberithH1170 their god.H430 ^[34] And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 rememberedH2142(QalPerf) not the LordH3068 their God,H430 who had deliveredH5337(HiphPtc) them out of the handsH3027 of all their enemiesH341(QalActPtc) on every side:H5439 ^[35] Neither shewedH6213(QalPerf) they kindnessH2617 to the houseH1004 of Jerubbaal,H3378 [namely], Gideon,H1439 according to all the goodnessH2896 which he had shewedH6213(QalPerf) unto Israel.H3478

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