1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. 2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? 3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
4 ¶ And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them . 5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
6 ¶ And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
8 ¶ And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him . 9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
10 ¶ Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men , all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
11 ¶ And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
13 ¶ And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up , 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
18 ¶ Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art , so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. 19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.
22 ¶ Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
24 ¶ And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, We will willingly give them . And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. 27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
28 ¶ Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
29 ¶ And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
32 ¶ And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely , Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
Gideona triumfs un atriebība
1 Efraima vīri viņam teica: “Kāpēc tu mums tā esi darījis, ka nesauci mūs, kad devies cīnīties ar Midjānu!?” – tā tie viņam skarbi pārmeta. 2 Bet viņš tiem sacīja: “Ko gan es būtu veicis tādu kā jūs? Vai tad Efraima ievākums nav labāks par Abīezera ražu? 3 Jūsu rokās Dievs ir nodevis Midjāna vadoņus Orēbu un Zeēvu. Ko gan es būtu spējis paveikt tādu kā jūs?” Kad viņš tā runāja, viņu niknums norima.
4 Gideons nonāca pie Jardānas. Viņš pārgāja tai pāri, bet tie trīs simti vīru, kas bija kopā ar viņu, bija pārguruši no vajāšanas. 5 Viņš sacīja Sukotas vīriem: “Jel dodiet kaut cik maizes tiem ļaudīm, kas man seko, jo tie ir pārguruši, un es pats vajāju Midjāna ķēniņus Zebahu un Calmunnu.” 6 Bet Sukotas vadoņi atbildēja: “Vai tad Zebahs un Calmunna jau ir tavā rokā, ka mums būtu jādod maize tavam pulkam?” 7 Un Gideons teica: “Kad Kungs nodos Zebahu un Calmunnu manā rokā, es kulšu jūsu miesas ar tuksneša ērkšķiem un dzelkšņiem!” 8 No turienes viņš devās augšup uz Penuēlu un runāja ar tiem to pašu, un Penuēlas vīri viņam atbildēja tāpat, kā bija atbildējuši Sukotas vīri. 9 Tad arī Penuēlas vīriem viņš sacīja: “Kad es atgriezīšos ar uzvaru, es nogāzīšu šo torni!”
10 Zebahs un Calmunna bija Karkorā un kopā ar tiem viņu karaspēks – ap piecpadsmit tūkstoši vīru, visi, kas bija atlikuši no austrumnieku dēlu karaspēka, jo simts divdesmit tūkstoši vīru, zobena nesēji, bija krituši. 11 Gideons devās augšup pa telšu iemītnieku ceļu austrumos no Nobahas un Jogbohas. Viņš sakāva to karaspēku, jo karaspēks jutās drošībā. 12 Zebahs un Calmunna metās bēgt, un viņš tos vajāja. Viņš saņēma gūstā abus Midjāna ķēniņus Zebahu un Calmunnu un iedzina šausmas visā karaspēkā. 13 Gideons, Joāša dēls, atgriezās no kara, iedams gar Heresas nogāzi. 14 Viņš notvēra kādu puisi no sukotiešiem un izjautāja to, un tas viņam uzrakstīja Sukotas vadoņus un vecajus – septiņdesmit septiņus vīrus. 15 Tad viņš nāca pie sukotiešiem un teica: “Redzi, Zebahs un Calmunna, par kuriem jūs mani izsmējāt, sacīdami: vai tad Zebahs un Calmunna jau ir tavā rokā, ka mums būtu jādod maize taviem pārgurušajiem vīriem?” 16 Un viņš saņēma pilsētas vecajus un ņēma tuksneša ērkšķus un dzelkšņus un lika tos matīt Sukotas vīriem. 17 Viņš nogāza Penuēlas torni un nokāva pilsētas vīrus. 18 Tad viņš vaicāja Zebaham un Calmunnam: “Kādi bija tie vīri, kurus jūs nokāvāt Tāborā?” Tie sacīja: “Tie visi bija tādi kā tu, tie izskatījās kā ķēniņa dēli!” 19 Un viņš teica: “Tie bija mani brāļi, manas mātes dēli! Dzīvs Kungs! – būtu jūs viņus atstājuši dzīvus, es jūs nenokautu!” 20 Viņš teica savam pirmdzimtajam Jeteram: “Celies, nokauj tos!” Bet jauneklis neizvilka zobenu, jo bija nobijies, viņš bija vēl zēns. 21 Tad Zebahs un Calmunna teica: “Celies pats un uzbrūc mums, jo, kāds ir vīrs, tāds viņa spēks.” Un Gideons cēlās un nokāva Zebahu un Calmunnu, un viņš paņēma mēnestiņus, kas bija ap viņu kamieļu kakliem.
Gideona atkrišana
22 Israēla vīri sacīja Gideonam: “Valdi pār mums! Tu un tavs dēls, un tavs dēla dēls, jo tu esi mūs izpestījis no Midjāna.” 23 Un Gideons viņiem atbildēja: “Es pats pār jums nevaldīšu, un arī mans dēls pār jums nevaldīs – pār jums valdīs Kungs!” 24 Gideons viņiem teica: “Es jums ko prasīšu – ikviens lai man dod auskaru no sava laupījuma!” Jo tie nēsāja zelta auskarus, tāpēc ka bija ismaēlieši. 25 Un viņi sacīja: “Dosim labprāt!” Viņi izklāja apmetni, un ikviens nometa uz tā auskaru no sava laupījuma. 26 Viņš savāca zelta auskarus tūkstoš septiņi simti mēru svarā, neskaitot mēnestiņus, piekariņus un purpura drānas, ko valkāja Midjāna ķēniņi, un neskaitot karuļus, kas bija ap viņu kamieļu kakliem. 27 Gideons no tā darināja efodu un novietoja to savā pilsētā Ofrā – tur viss Israēls ar to dzina maucību. Tas kļuva par slazdu Gideonam un viņa namam. 28 Tā Midjāns tika pazemots Israēla dēlu priekšā, un viņi vairs necēla savas galvas. Tad zemei Gideona dienās bija miers – četrdesmit gadus.
Gideona nāve
29 Jerubaals, Joāša dēls, aizgāja un apmetās savā namā. 30 Gideonam bija septiņdesmit dēlu, kas nākuši no viņa gurniem, jo viņam bija daudz sievu. 31 Un viņa blakussieva, kas bija Šehemā, arī viņa tam dzemdēja dēlu. Viņš deva tam vārdu Abīmelehs. 32 Gideons, Joāša dēls, nomira, būdams krietni gados, un tika apbedīts sava tēva Joāša kapā abīezeriešu Ofrā.
33 Tiklīdz Gideons bija miris, Israēla dēli novērsās, dzina maucību ar baāliem un nolika sev Derībbaalu par dievu. 34 Israēla dēli nepieminēja Kungu, savu Dievu, savu atbrīvotāju no visiem apkārtējiem ienaidniekiem, 35 nedz arī izrādīja jel kādu laipnību Jerubaala, Gideona, namam par visu labo, ko viņš bija darījis Israēlam.
