Judges:8

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* And the men of Ephraim said unto him , Why hast thou served us thus , that thou calledst us not , when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites ? And they did chide with him sharply . * And he said unto them , What have I done now in comparison of you ? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer #Abiy #ezer #? * God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian , Oreb and Zeeb Ze #eb #: and what was I able to do in comparison of you ? Then their anger was abated toward him , when he had said that . * And Gideon came to Jordan , and passed over , he , and the three hundred men that were with him , faint , yet pursuing them . * And he said unto the men of Succoth , Give , I pray you , loaves of bread unto the people that follow me ; for they be faint , and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna , kings of Midian . * And the princes of Succoth said , Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand , that we should give bread unto thine army ? * And Gideon said , Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand , then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers . * And he went up thence to Penuel P @nuw #el #, and spake unto them likewise zo #th #: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him . * And he spake also unto the men of Penuel P @nuw #el #, saying , When I come again in peace , I will break down this tower . * Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor , and their hosts with them , about fifteen chamesh # thousand men , all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east : for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword . * And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah , and smote the host : for the host was secure . * And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled , he pursued after them , and took the two kings of Midian , Zebah and Zalmunna , and discomfited all the host . * And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up , * And caught a young man of the men of Succoth , and enquired of him : and he described unto him the princes of Succoth , and the elders thereof , even threescore and seventeen #H7651men . * And he came unto the men of Succoth , and said , Behold Zebah and Zalmunna , with whom ye did upbraid me , saying , Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand , that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary ya #@ph #? * And he took the elders of the city , and thorns of the wilderness and briers , and with them he taught the men of Succoth . * And he beat down the tower of Penuel P @nuw #el #, and slew the men of the city . * Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna , What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor ? And they answered , As thou art , so were they ; each one resembled the children of a king . * And he said , They were my brethren , even the sons of my mother : as the LORD liveth , if ye had saved them alive , I would not slay you . * And he said unto Jether his firstborn , Up , and slay them . But the youth drew not his sword : for he feared , because he was yet a youth na #ar #. * Then Zebah and Zalmunna said , Rise thou , and fall upon us : for as the man is , so is his strength . And Gideon arose , and slew Zebah and Zalmunna , and took away the ornaments that were on their camels necks tsavva #r #. * Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon Gid #own #, Rule thou over us , both thou , and thy son , and thy sons son also : for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian . * And Gideon said unto them , I will not rule over you , neither shall my son rule over you : the LORD shall rule over you . * And Gideon said unto them , I would desire a request of you , that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey . (For they had golden earrings , because they were Ishmaelites Yishma #e #liy #. ) * And they answered , We will willingly give them . And they spread a garment , and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey . * And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold ; beside ornaments , and collars , and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian , and beside the chains that were about their camels necks tsavva #r #. * And Gideon made an ephod thereof , and put it in his city , even in Ophrah : and all Israel went thither a whoring after it : which thing became a snare unto Gideon Gid #own #, and to his house . * Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel Yisra #el #, so that they lifted up their heads no more . And the country was in quietness forty #arba #iym # years in the days of Gideon Gid #own #. * And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house . * And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten : for he had many wives . * And his concubine that was in Shechem , she also bare him a son , whose name he called Abimelech . * And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age , and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father , in Ophrah of the Abiezrites #Abiy ha -#Ezriy #. * And it came to pass , as soon as Gideon was dead , that the children of Israel turned again , and went a whoring after Baalim Ba #al #, and made Baalberith Ba #altheir god . * And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God , who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side : * Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal Y @rubba #al #, namely , Gideon Gid #own #, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel Yisra #el #.

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