Study Desk

That same night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up. Go down and fight against them at their tents. For I have given them into your hands.

When Gideon heard the story of the dream and what it meant, he bowed down and worshiped God. Then he returned to the tents of Israel and said, "Get up! For the Lord has given the army of Midian into your hands."

I and all those with me will blow the horns. Then you blow the horns all around the tents, and say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!'"

All three groups blew their horns and broke their pots. They held the sticks of fire in their left hands and horns to be blown in their right hands. And they called out, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!"

Gideon said to the men of Succoth, "I ask of you, give loaves of bread to the people who are following me. For they are tired and weak. I am going after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor. With them were their armies, about 15,000 men. These were all who were left of the whole army of the people of the east. For 120,000 men who fought with swords had been killed.

He caught a young man from Succoth and asked him questions. The young man wrote down for him the rulers and leaders of Succoth, seventy-seven men.

Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Stand up yourself and kill us. For as the man is, so is his strength." So Gideon stood up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna. And he took the religious objects that were on their camels' necks.

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also. For you have set us free from the power of Midian."

And they said, "For sure we will give them." So they spread out a coat, and every one of them threw into it an object he had taken.

The gold objects Gideon had asked for were as heavy as 1,700 pieces of gold money. He took the objects and purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian also. And he took the religious objects that were around the camels' necks.

Midian was put under the power of the people of Israel. They did not lift up their heads any more. And the land had peace for forty years, during the life of Gideon.

Gideon had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives.

"Speak to all the leaders of Shechem. Say to them, ‘Which is better for you? Should all seventy of Jerubbaal's sons rule over you? Or should one man rule over you? Remember that I am your own bone and flesh.'"

So his mother's family spoke all these words for him in the ears of the leaders of Shechem. And they decided to follow Abimelech. For they said, "He is our brother."

"Now it may be that you have acted in truth and honor in making Abimelech king. It may be that you have acted well toward Jerubbaal and his house, by paying him for what he did.

For my father fought for you. He put his life in danger to set you free from the power of Midian.

Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.

So God punished Abimelech for the sin he had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.

God punished the men of Shechem for all their sin. The words that Jotham the son of Jerubbaal spoke against them came true.