Judges:8:1-21

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* Now the men of Ephraim said to him , "Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites ?" And they reprimanded him sharply . * So 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 ? * God has delivered 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 subsided when he said that . * When Gideon came to the Jordan , he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over , exhausted but still in pursuit . * Then he said to the men of Succoth , "Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me , for they are exhausted , and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna , kings of Midian ." * And the leaders of Succoth said , "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand , that we should give bread to your army ?" * So Gideon said , "For this cause , when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand , then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers !" * Then he went up from 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 . * So he also spoke to the men of Penuel , saying , "When I come back in peace , I will tear down this tower !" * Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor , and their armies with them , about fifteen thousand , all who were left of all the army of the people of the East ; for one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen . * Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah ; and he attacked the army while the camp felt secure . * When Zebah and Zalmunna fled , he pursued them ; and he took the two kings of Midian , Zebah and Zalmunna , and routed the whole army . * Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle , from the Ascent of Heres . * And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him ; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders , seventy-seven men . * Then he came to the men of Succoth and said , "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna , about whom you ridiculed me , saying , "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand , that we should give bread to your weary men ?"' * And he took the elders of the city , and thorns of the wilderness and briers , and with them he taught the men of Succoth . * Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city . * And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna , "What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor ?" So they answered , "As you are , so were they ; each one resembled the son of a king ." * Then he 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 ." * And he said to Jether his firstborn , "Rise , kill them !" But the youth would not draw his sword ; for he was afraid , because he was still a youth . * So Zebah and Zalmunna said , "Rise yourself , and kill us ; for as a man is , so is his strength ." So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna , and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels ' necks .

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