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And I said to you: "I am Adonai your God; you are not to be afraid of the gods of the Emori in whose land you are living." But you paid no attention to what I said!'"

"Excuse me, sir," answered Gid‘on, "but if Adonai is with us, then why is all this happening to us? And where are all his miracles our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Didn't Adonai bring us up from Egypt?' For now Adonai has abandoned us and handed us over to Midyan."

But Gid‘on answered him, "Forgive me, my Lord, but with what am I to save Isra'el? Why, my family is the poorest in M'nasheh, and I'm the youngest person in my father's house!"

But Adonai reassured him, "Shalom to you, don't be afraid, you won't die!"

They asked each other, "Who could have done this?" But after investigating, they concluded that Gid‘on the son of Yo'ash had done it.

But Yo'ash said to all those crowding around him, "You're defending Ba‘al, are you? It's your job to save him? Anyone who defends Ba‘al will be put to death before morning! If he's a god, let him defend himself! After all, somebody destroyed his altar!"

But the Spirit of Adonai covered Gid‘on. He sounded the call on the shofar, and Avi‘ezer rallied behind him.

But Gid‘on said to God, "Don't be angry with me because I am asking one more thing, let me make one more test, please: this time let it be dry only on the fleece, with dew all over the ground."

Therefore, proclaim to the people ‘Anyone who is anxious or afraid should go back home, while we stay here on Mount Gil‘ad.'" Twenty-two thousand returned, but ten thousand remained.

So they took the provisions and the shofars of the people; then he sent all the men of Isra'el away, each to his tent. But the three hundred men he kept. The camp of Midyan was in the valley below him.

But if you are afraid to attack, go down with your servant Purah;

But the men of Efrayim complained to Gid‘on, "Why didn't you call on us when you went to fight Midyan? Why did you treat us this way?" They were sharp in their criticism.

By now Gid‘on and his three hundred men had come to the Yarden and crossed over. They were exhausted but were still pursuing the enemy.

But the chiefs of Sukkot said, "You haven't captured Zevach and Tzalmuna yet, so why should we give bread to your army?"

Zevach and Tzalmuna fled, but Gid‘on pursued them. Thus he captured the two kings of Midyan, Zevach and Tzalmuna, and routed their whole army in panic.

Then he ordered his oldest son, Yeter, "Get up, and kill them!" But the boy didn't draw his sword; being still a boy, he was afraid.

Then he added, "But I have this request to make of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from the booty you have taken." For the enemy soldiers had worn gold earrings, like all the other tribes descended from Yishma‘el.

Out of these things Gid‘on made a ritual vest, which he located in his city, ‘Ofrah. But all Isra'el turned it into an idol there, and it thus became a snare to Gid‘on and his family.

But as soon as Gid‘on was dead, the people of Isra'el again went astray after the ba‘alim and made Ba‘al-B'rit their god.

But the olive tree replied, ‘Am I supposed to leave my oil, which is used to honor both God and humanity, just to go and hold sway over the trees?'