Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, "Why hast thou served us thus, that thou called us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites?" And they chided him sharply.
1
The men from Ephraim strongly protested Gideon's actions. They said, "Why did you do this to us? You didn't invite us to go fight Midian with you."
2 And he said unto them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
2
Gideon replied, "I haven't done anything compared with what you have done. Aren't the grapes that Ephraim picked after the harvest better than all the grapes in Abiezer's entire harvest?
3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that.
3
God handed Oreb and Zeeb, Midian's commanders, over to you. What have I done compared with that?" When they heard what Gideon said, they weren't angry with him anymore.
4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
4
Gideon and his 300 men headed toward the Jordan River. They were exhausted when they crossed it, but they kept pursuing the enemy.
5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, "Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people who follow me, for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian."
5
So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, "Please give me some food for the men under my command. They're exhausted, and I'm pursuing King Zebah and King Zalmunna 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?"
6
The generals at Succoth replied, "We shouldn't give your army food. You haven't captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet."
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."
7
Gideon responded, "Alright, then. When the LORD hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I'll whip your bodies with thorns and thistles from the desert."
8 And he went up thence to Penuel and spoke unto them likewise, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
8
Then Gideon went to Penuel and asked the people there for the same help. But they gave him the same reply that the men of Succoth gave.
9 And he spoke also unto the men of Penuel, saying, "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower."
9
So he told them, "When I come back after my victory, I'll tear 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 a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword.
10
Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with an army of about 15,000 men. This was all that was left of Kedem's entire army. In the battle, 120,000 soldiers died.
11 And Gideon went up by the way of those who dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure.
11
So Gideon went up Tent Dwellers Road, east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and defeated the unsuspecting Midianite army.
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.
12
Zebah and Zalmunna fled as Gideon pursued them. He captured King Zebah and King Zalmunna of Midian, and the whole Midianite army panicked.
13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
13
Gideon, son of Joash, returned from the battle through the Heres Pass
14 and caught a young man of the men of Succoth and inquired of him; and he wrote down for him the princes of Succoth and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
14
and captured a young man from Succoth. He questioned him, and the young man wrote down for him the names of the 77 officials and leaders of Succoth.
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 who are weary?'"
15
Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me when you said, 'We shouldn't give your exhausted men food before you've captured Zebah and Zalmunna.'"
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.
16
So Gideon took the leaders of the city and taught them a lesson using thorns and thistles from the desert.
17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
17
Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of that 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."
18
He asked Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?" They answered, "They were like you. Each one looked like a king's son."
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."
19
Gideon replied, "They were my brothers, my mother's sons. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not have to kill you now."
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.
20
Then he told Jether, his firstborn son, "Get up and kill them!" But Jether didn't draw his sword. He was afraid because he was only a young man.
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.
21
Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Get up and do it yourself! It's a man's job!" So Gideon got up and killed them. Then he took the half-moon 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."
22
The men of Israel said to Gideon, "You, then your son, and then your grandson, must rule us. You rescued us from 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."
23
Gideon replied, "I will not rule you nor will my son. The LORD will rule you."
24 And Gideon said unto them, "I would make a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings from his spoil." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
24
Then Gideon said to them, "Do me a favor. Each of you give me the earrings from your loot." (Their enemies, the Ishmaelites, wore gold earrings.)
25 And they answered, "We will willingly give them." And they spread a garment, and cast therein every man the earrings from his spoil.
25
The men of Israel answered, "Yes, we'll give them to you." So they spread out a coat. Each man took the earrings from his loot and dropped them on it.
26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides ornaments and collars and purple raiment that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.
26
The gold earrings Gideon had asked for weighed 40 pounds. This did not include the half-moon ornaments, the earrings, the purple clothes worn by the kings of Midian, and the chains from 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.
27
Then Gideon used the gold to make an idol and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. All Israel chased after it there as though it were a prostitute. It became a trap for Gideon and his family.
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.
28
The power of Midian was crushed by the people of Israel, and Midian never again became a threat. So the land had peace for 40 years during Gideon's life.
29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
29
Jerubbaal, son of Joash, went home to live.
30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten, for he had many wives.
30
Gideon had 70 sons because he had many wives.
31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
31
His concubine at Shechem also gave birth to a son. That son was named Abimelech.
32 And Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
32
Gideon, son of Joash, died at a very old age. He was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah, the city belonging to Abiezer's family.
33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again and went a whoring after the Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
33
As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel chased after other gods--the Baals--as though they were prostitutes. They 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;
34
The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from all the enemies around them.
35 neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (namely, Gideon), according to all the goodness which he had shown unto Israel.
35
And they were not kind to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) despite all the good he had done for Israel.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.