Study Desk

Then the survivor went down to the nobles, the people of Yahweh went down for me as warriors.

Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.

For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.

And Joash said to all that stood against him, Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? he that will contend for him, let him be put to death while [it is yet] morning: if he is a god, let him contend for himself, because one has broken down his altar.

And it was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.

And God did so that night: for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

And Yahweh said to Gideon, The people that are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, or else Israel will vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand has saved me.

And Yahweh said to Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down to the water, and I will try them for you there: and it shall be, that of whom I say to you, This shall go with you, the same shall go with you; and of whoever I say to you, This shall not go with you, the same shall not go.

And it came to pass the same night, that Yahweh said to him, Arise, go down into the camp; for I have delivered it into your hand.

And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the sea-shore for multitude.

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshiped; and he returned into the camp of Israel, and said, Arise; for Yahweh has delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

When I blow the trumpet, I and all that are with me, then you blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, For Yahweh and for Gideon.

And he said to the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to the people that follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the host of the sons of the east; for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen.

And Gideon went up by the way of those that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure.

And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy and seven men.

And he said to Jether his first-born, Rise up, and slay them. But the youth did not draw his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, You rise, and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels' necks.

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.