1
And the men of Efrayim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midyan?” And they contended with him strongly.
2
And he said to them, “What have I done now compared with you? Is not the gleaning of Efrayim better than the vintage of Aviezer?
3
Into your hand Elohim gave the rulers of Midyan, Orev and Ze’ev. And what was I able to do compared with you?” Then their spirit toward him became quiet when he spoke this word.
4
And Gid’on came to the Yarden and crossed over, he and the three hundred ish who were with him, weary, yet pursuing.
5
And he said to the men of Sukkot, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are at my feet, for they are weary, and I am pursuing after Zevach and Tzalmuna, kings of Midyan.”
6
And the rulers of Sukkot said, “Are the palms of Zevach and Tzalmuna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your host?”
7
And Gid’on said, “Therefore, when Yahuah gives Zevach and Tzalmuna into my hand, I will thresh your flesh with thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”
8
And 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 Sukkot had answered.
9
And he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I return in shalom, I will tear down this tower.”
10
And Zevach and Tzalmuna were in Qarqor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand ish, all who remained from all the camp of the sons of the east; for those who had fallen were one hundred and twenty thousand ish who drew the sword.
11
And Gid’on went up by the way of those who dwell in tents, east of Novach and Yogbehah, and struck the camp while the camp was secure.
12
And Zevach and Tzalmuna fled, and he pursued after them and seized the two kings of Midyan, Zevach and Tzalmuna, and caused all the camp to tremble.
13
And Gid’on son of Yoash returned from the battle by the ascent of Cheres.
14
And he seized a young man from the men of Sukkot and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the rulers of Sukkot and its elders, seventy-seven ish.
15
And he came to the men of Sukkot and said, “See Zevach and Tzalmuna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the palms of Zevach and Tzalmuna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?’”
16
And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Sukkot.
17
And he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
18
And he said to Zevach and Tzalmuna, “What kind of men were those whom you killed at Tavor?” And they said, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the sons of a king.”
19
And he said, “They were my brothers, sons of my mother. As Yahuah lives, if you had kept them alive, I would not kill you.”
20
And he said to Yeter his firstborn, “Rise, kill them.” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he feared, because he was still a young man.
21
And Zevach and Tzalmuna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the ish is, so is his strength.” And Gid’on rose and killed Zevach and Tzalmuna, and took the crescents that were upon the necks of their camels.
22
And the men of Yisra’el said to Gid’on, “Rule over us, both you and your son and your son’s son, for you have saved us from the hand of Midyan.”
23
And Gid’on said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you. Yahuah will rule over you.”
24
And Gid’on said to them, “Let me ask a request from you: give me, each ish, an earring from his spoil.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Yishmaelim.
25
And they said, “Giving, we will surely give.” And they spread out a garment, and each ish cast there an earring from his spoil.
26
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred sheqels of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple garments that were upon the kings of Midyan, and besides the chains that were upon the necks of their camels.
27
And Gid’on made it into an ephod and placed it in his city, in Ofrat. And all Yisra’el went whoring after it there, and it became a snare to Gid’on and to his house.
28
And Midyan was subdued before the sons of Yisra’el, and they did not lift up their head again. And the land rested forty years in the days of Gid’on.
29
And Yerubbaal son of Yoash went and dwelt in his house.
30
And Gid’on had seventy sons who came out from his thigh, for he had many wives.
31
And his concubine who was in Shekhem also bore him a son, and he called his name Avimelekh.
32
And Gid’on son of Yoash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Yoash his father, in Ofrat of the Aviezri.
33
And it came to pass, when Gid’on died, that the sons of Yisra’el turned again and went whoring after the Baalim, and made Baal-Berit their elohim.
34
And the sons of Yisra’el did not remember Yahuah their Elohim, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies all around.
35
And they did not deal in covenant-faithfulness with the house of Yerubbaal, Gid’on, according to all the good that he had done for Yisra’el.