Judges:8

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* And the men of Ephraim said to him , What is this thing you have done to us , not to call us when you went out to fight against Midian ? And they contended with him sharply . * And he said to them , What have I done now in comparison to you ? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer ? * God has given the rulers of Midian , Oreb and Zeeb , into your hand . And what was I able to do like you ? Then their spirit was abated toward him when he said this word . * And Gideon came to the Jordan , he crossing over , and three hundred who were with him , being weary , yet pursuing . * And he said to the men of Succoth , Please give loaves of bread to the people at my feet , for they are weary ; and I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna , the kings of Midian . * And the rulers of Succoth said , Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand , that we should give bread to your army ? * And Gideon said Because of this , when Jehovah has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand , I shall thresh your flesh with thorns of the wilderness and with briers . * And he went up from there to Penuel , and spoke to them in this same way . And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered . * And he also spoke to the men of Penuel , saying , When I come back in peace , I will break down this tower . * And Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor , and their armies with them , about fifteen thousand , all who were left of all the army of the sons of the east . And those who fell were a hundred and twenty thousand men drawing sword . * And Gideon went up the way of those who live in tents , on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah , and struck the army ; for the army was at ease . * And Zebah and Zalmunna fled ; and he chased them and captured the two kings of Midian , Zebah and Zalmunna . And he caused all the army to tremble . * And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle , at the ascent of Mount Heres . * And he captured a young man of the men of Succoth , and questioned him ; and he wrote out to him the rulers of Succoth , and its elders , seventy seven men . * And he came in to the men of Succoth , and said , Behold , Zebah and Zalmunna , about whom you taunted me , saying , Is the palm 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 the thorns of the wilderness , and the briers , and taught the men of Succoth with them . * And he broke down the tower of Penuel , and killed the men of the city . * And he said to Zebah and to Zalmunna , How were the men whom you killed in Tabor ? And they said , As you are , so they ; each one as a king 's son in appearance . * And he said , They were my brothers , sons of my mother . As Jehovah lives , if you had kept them alive , I would not have killed you . * And he said to his first-born , Jether , Rise up , kill them . But the young man did not draw his sword , for he was afraid , for he was still a youth . * And Zebah and Zalmunna said , You rise up and fall on us , for as the man , so is his might . And Gideon rose up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna , and took the moon crescents which were on the necks of their camels . * And the men of Israel said to Gideon , rule over us , both you and your son , and your son 's son , for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian . * And Gideon said to them , I shall not rule over you , nor shall my son rule over you ; Jehovah shall rule over you . * And Gideon said to them , Let me ask of you a request , that each man give to me a ring from his plunder ; for they had gold rings , because they were Ishmaelites . * And they said , We will certainly give . And they spread out a garment and each threw a ring from their plunder there . * And the weight of the rings of gold which he asked was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold , apart from the ornaments , and the pendants , and the purple clothing that was on he kings of Midian ; also apart from the necklaces on the necks of their camels . * And Gideon made an ephod of it , and put it in his city , even in Ophrah . And all Israel went whoring after it there , and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house . * And Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel , and they did not lift up their heads any more . And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon . * And Jerubbaal the son of Joash departed and lived in his own house . * And seventy sons were born to Gideon , coming out of his loins ; for he had many wives . * And his concubine in Shechem bore a son to him , she also ; and he called his name Abimelech . * And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age , and was buried in the burial place of his father Joash , in Ophrah of the Abiezrites . * And it happened , when Gideon was dead , the sons of Israel rebelled and went whoring after the Baals , and appointed Baalberith for a god for themselves . * And the sons of Israel did not remember Jehovah their God who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies all around ; * nor did they act with kindness on the house of Jerubbaal , Gideon , according to all the good which he did with Israel .

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