Gideon Pursues Zebah and Zalmunna

1Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they strongly contended with him. 2But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3God has given the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, into your hands; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their [†]anger toward him subsided when he spoke this word.

4Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing. 5And he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6But the princes of Succoth said, “[†]Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?” 7And Gideon said, “Thus, when Yahweh has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will [†]thrash your [†]bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8So he went up from there to [†]Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered. 9So he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower.”

10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camps with them, about 15,000 men, all who were left of the entire camp of the sons of the east; for the fallen were 120,000 men who drew the sword. 11And Gideon went up by the way of those who dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah and struck the camp when the camp was [†]unsuspecting. 12Then Zebah and Zalmunna fled. And he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw the whole camp into utter fright.

13Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle [†]by the ascent of Heres. 14And he captured a youth from the men of Succoth and questioned him. So the youth wrote down for him the princes of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you reproached me, saying, ‘[†]Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’” 16Then he took the elders of the city as well as thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he [†]taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17And he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “They were like you, each one [†]resembling the son of a king.” 19And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them.” But the youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid because he was still a youth. 21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself, and smite us; for as the man, so is his might.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels’ necks.

Gideon Makes an Ephod

22Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; Yahweh shall rule over you.” 24Yet Gideon said to them, “I would [†]make one request of you, that each of you give me [†]an earring from his spoil.” (For they had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)