Study Desk

Gideon left the city of Succoth and went to the city of Penuel. He asked the men of Penuel for food, just as he had asked the men of Succoth. But the men of Penuel gave Gideon the same answer that the men of Succoth had given.

Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of the Midianites, ran away. But Gideon chased and caught them. Gideon and his men defeated the enemy army.

Then Gideon turned to Jether, his oldest son, and said, "Kill these kings." But Jether was only a boy and was afraid, so he would not take out his sword.

But Gideon told the Israelites, "The Lord will be your ruler. I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you."

Abimelech went to his father's house at Ophrah and murdered his brothers. He killed the 70 sons of his father Gideon. He killed them all at the same time, but Gideon's youngest son hid from Abimelech and escaped. The youngest son's name was Jotham.

"But the olive tree said, ‘My oil is used to honor gods and humans. Should I stop making my oil just to go and sway over the other trees?'

"But the fig tree answered, ‘Should I stop making my good, sweet fruit just to go and sway over the other trees?'

"But the vine answered, ‘My wine makes men and kings happy. Should I stop making my wine just to go and sway over the trees?'

"But the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to make me king over you, come and find shelter in my shade. But if you don't want to do this, let fire come out of the thornbush. Let the fire burn even the cedar trees of Lebanon.'

But remember what my father did for you. He fought for you and risked his life when he saved you from the Midianites.

But now you have turned against my father's family. You have killed 70 of his sons all at the same time. You made Abimelech the new king over the city of Shechem. He is only the son of my father's slave girl. But you made him king because he is your relative.

But leaders of Shechem and the house of Millo, if you have not acted right, may Abimelech destroy you. And may Abimelech be destroyed too!"

When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, "Look, there are people coming down from the mountains." But Zebul said, "You are only seeing the shadows of the mountains. The shadows just look like people."

But again Gaal said, "Look, there are some people coming down from that place over there by Land's Navel. And there! I saw someone's head over by Magician's Tree."

Abimelech and his men chased Gaal and his men. Gaal's men ran back toward the gate of the city of Shechem, but many were killed before they could get back to the gate.

But inside the city there was a strong tower, so all the leaders and other men and women of that city ran to the tower. When the people were inside the tower, they locked the door behind them. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.

But, while Abimelech was standing at the door of the tower, a woman on the roof dropped a grinding stone on his head. The grinding stone crushed his skull.

But you left me and started worshiping other gods, so I refuse to save you again.

But the Israelites said to the Lord , "We have sinned. Do whatever you want to do to us, but please save us today."

Jephthah was from the tribe of Gilead. He was a strong soldier. But Jephthah was the son of a prostitute. His father was a man named Gilead.