Study Desk

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

So because Gideon broke down Baal's altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, "Let Baal contend with him."

He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.

That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink."

So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.

and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.

Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.

So he said to the men of Peniel, "When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower."

Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Come, do it yourself. ‘As is the man, so is his strength.'" So Gideon stepped forward and killed them, and took the ornaments off their camels' necks.

They answered, "We'll be glad to give them." So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it.

When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

"But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?'

So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too!

God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.

So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.

So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek.

So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.

So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.