Judges Chapter 8
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
2
At her feet he bowed, he fell:
3
Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
4
Through the window she looked forth, and cried,
5
The mother of Sisera
6
cried through the lattice,
7
Why is his chariot so long in coming?
8
Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
9
Her wise ladies answered her,
10
Yea, she returned answer to herself,
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Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil?
12
A damsel, two damsels to every man;
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To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments,
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A spoil of dyed garments embroidered,
15
Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?
16
So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah:
17
But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.
18
And the land had rest forty years.
19
And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
20
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
21
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them;
22
and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
23
For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.
24
And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah.
25
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah because of Midian,
26
that Jehovah sent a prophet unto the children of Israel: and he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
27
and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;
28
and I said unto you, I am Jehovah your God; ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice.
29
And the angel of Jehovah came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
30
And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
31
And Gideon said unto him, Oh, my lord, if Jehovah is with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? but now Jehovah hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.
32
And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?
33
And he said unto him, Oh, Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
34
And Jehovah said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
35
And he said unto him, If now I have found favor in thy sight, then show me a sign that it is thou that talkest with me.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And the men of Ephraim said to him, What is this thing thou hast done to us, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they disputed with him sharply.
2
And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?
3
Into your hands hathGod delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their spirit was appeased toward him, when he said that word.
4
And Gideon came to the Jordan, [and] passed over, he and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing.
5
And he said to the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to the people that follow me, for they are faint; and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
6
And the chief men of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy hand, that we should give bread to thine army?
7
And Gideon said, Therefore when Jehovah delivers Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will thresh your flesh with thorns of the wilderness and with briars.
8
And he went up thence to Penuel, and spoke to them in like manner. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.
9
And he spoke also to 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 camp with them, about fifteen thousand [men], all that were left of the whole camp of the children of the east; for there had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
11
And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the camp; for the camp was at its ease.
12
And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued after them, and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the camp.
13
And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle, from the ascent of Heres.
14
And he caught a youth of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him; and he wrote down for him the chief men of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy-seven men.
15
And he came to the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy men that are weary?
16
And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briars, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
17
And he broke down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
18
Then said he to Zebah and Zalmunna, What sort of men were they that ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the sons of a king.
19
And he said, They were my brethren, the sons of my mother. [As] Jehovah liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
20
And he said to Jether his firstborn, Arise, 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 on us; for as is the man, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna; and he took the moons that were on their camels' necks.
22
And the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also; for thou hast saved us from the hand of Midian.
23
And Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Jehovah will rule over you.
24
And Gideon said to them, I would desire a request of you: give me every man the earrings of his booty; for they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
25
And they said, We will willingly give [them]. And they spread a garment, and cast therein every man the earrings of his booty.
26
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand seven hundred [shekels] of gold; besides the moons, and eardrops, and the purple garments that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.
27
And Gideon made an ephod of them, and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel went thither a whoring after it; and it became a snare to Gideon, and to his house.
28
And Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
29
And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his house.
30
Now Gideon had seventy sons who had come out of his loins, for he had many wives.
31
And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he gave him the name of 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 when Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after the Baals, and set up Baal-Berith as theirgod.
34
And the children of Israel remembered not Jehovah theirGod, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side.
35
And they shewed no kindness to the house of Jerubbaal-Gideon, according to all the good that he had done to Israel.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And the men of Ephraim said to Gedeon, What [is] this [that] thou hast done to us, in that thou didst not call us when thou wentest to fight with Madiam? and they chode with him sharply.
2
And he said to them, What have I now done in comparison of you? [is] not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
3
The Lord has delivered into your hand the princes of Madiam, Oreb and Zeb; and what could I do in comparison of you? Then was their spirit calmed toward him, when he spoke this word.
4
And Gedeon came to Jordan, and went over, himself and the three hundred with him, hungry, yet pursuing.
5
And he said to the men of Socchoth, Give, I pray you, bread to feed this people that follow me; because they are faint, and behold, I am following after Zebee and Salmana, kings of Madiam.
6
And the princes of Socchoth said, [Are] the hands of Zebee and Salmana now in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy host?
7
And Gedeon said, Therefore when the Lord gives Zebee and Salmana into my hand, then will I tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and the Barkenim.
8
And he went up thence to Phanuel, and spoke to them likewise: and the men of Phanuel answered him as the men of Socchoth [had] answered him.
9
And Gedeon said to the men of Phanuel, When I return in peace, I will break down this tower.
10
And Zebee and Salmana [were] in Carcar, and their host [was] with them, about fifteen thousand, all that were left of all the host of the aliens; and they that fell [were] a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword.
11
And Gedeon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents, eastward of Nabai and Jegebal; and he smote the host, and the host was secure.
12
And Zebee and Salmana fled; and he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Madiam, Zebee and Salmana, and discomfited all the army.
13
And Gedeon the son of Joas returned from the battle, down from the battle of Ares.
14
And he took prisoner a young lad of the men of Socchoth, and questioned him; and he wrote to him the names of the princes of Socchoth and of their elders, seventy-seven men.
15
And Gedeon came to the princes of Socchoth, and said, Behold Zebee and Salmana, about whom ye reproached me, saying, [Are] the hands of Zebee and Salmana now in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy men that are faint?
16
And he took the elders of the city with the thorns of the wilderness and the Barkenim, and with them he tore the men of the city.
17
And he overthrew the tower of Phanuel, and slew the men of the city.
18
And he said to Zebee and Salmana, Where [are] the men whom ye slew in Thabor? and they said, As thou, so [were] they, according to the likeness of the son of a king.
19
And Gedeon said, They were my brethren and the sons of my mother: [as] the Lord lives, if ye had preserved them alive, I would not have slain you.
20
And he said to Jether his first-born, Rise and slay them; but the lad drew not his sword, for he was afraid, for he was yet very young.
21
And Zebee and Salmana said, Rise thou and fall upon us, for thy power [is] as that of a man; and Gedeon arose, and slew Zebee and Salmana; and he took the round ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.
22
And the men of Israel said to Gedeon, Rule, [my] lord, over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son; for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Madiam.
23
And Gedeon said to them, I will not rule, and my son shall not rule among you; the Lord shall rule over you.
24
And Gedeon said to them, I will make a request of you, and do ye give me every man an earring out of his spoils: for they had golden earrings, for they were Ismaelites.
25
And they said, We will certainly give them: and he opened his garment, and each man cast therein an earring of his spoils.
26
And the weight of the golden earrings which he asked, was a thousand and seven hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescents, and the chains, and the garments, and the purple cloths that were on the kings of Madiam, and besides the chains that were on the necks of their camels.
27
And Gedeon made an ephod of it, and set it in his city in Ephratha; and all Israel went thither a whoring after it, and it became a stumbling-block to Gedeon and his house.
28
And Madiam was straitened before the children of Israel, and they did not lift up their head any more; and the land had rest forty years in the days of Gedeon.
29
And Jerobaal the son of Joas went and sat in his house.
30
And Gedeon had seventy sons begotten of his body, for he had many wives.
31
And his concubine was in Sychem, and she also bore him a son, and gave him the name Abimelech.
32
And Gedeon son of Joas died in his city, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joas his father in Ephratha of Abi-Esdri.
33
And it came to pass when Gedeon was dead, that the children of Israel turned, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made for themselves a covenant with Baal that he should be their god.
34
And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hand of all that afflicted them round about.
35
And they did not deal mercifully with the house of Jerobaal, (the same is Gedeon) according to all the good which he did to Israel.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Dixeruntque ad eum viri Ephraim: Quid est hoc quod facere voluisti, ut nos non vocares, cum ad pugnam pergeres contra Madian? iurgantes fortiter, et prope vim inferentes.
2
Quibus ille respondit: Quod enim tale facere potui, quale vos fecistis? nonne melior est racemus Ephraim, vindemiis Abiezer?
3
In manus vestras Dominus tradidit principes Madian, Oreb, et Zeb: quid tale facere potui, quale vos fecistis? Quod cum locutus esset, requievit spiritus eorum, quo tumebant contra eum.
4
Cumque venisset Gedeon ad Iordanem, transivit eum cum trecentis viris, qui secum erant: et præ lassitudine, fugientes persequi non poterant.
5
Dixitque ad viros Soccoth: Date, obsecro, panes populo, qui mecum est, quia valde defecerunt: ut possimus persequi Zebee, et Salmana reges Madian.
6
Responderunt principes Soccoth: Forsitan palmæ manuum Zebee et Salmana in manu tua sunt, et idcirco postulas ut demus exercitui tuo panes.
7
Quibus ille ait: Cum ergo tradiderit Dominus Zebee et Salmana in manus meas, conteram carnes vestras cum spinis, tribulisque deserti.
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Et inde conscendens, venit in Phanuel: locutusque est ad viros loci illius similia. Cui et illi responderunt, sicut responderant viri Soccoth.
9
Dixit itaque et eis: Cum reversus fuero victor in pace, destruam turrim hanc.
10
Zebee autem et Salmana requiescebant cum omni exercitu suo. Quindecim enim millia viri remanserant ex omnibus turmis Orientalium populorum, cæsis centum viginti millibus bellatorum educentium gladium.
11
Ascendensque Gedeon per viam eorum, qui in tabernaculis morabantur, ad Orientalem partem Nobe, et Iegbaa, percussit castra hostium, qui securi erant, et nihil adversi suspicabantur.
12
Fugeruntque Zebee et Salmana, quos persequens Gedeon comprehendit, turbato omni exercitu eorum.
13
Revertensque de bello ante solis ortum,
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apprehendit puerum de viris Soccoth: interrogavitque eum nomina principum et seniorum Soccoth, et descripsit septuaginta septem viros.
15
Venitque ad Soccoth, et dixit eis: En Zebee, et Salmana super quibus exprobrastis mihi, dicentes: Forsitan manus Zebee et Salmana in manibus tuis sunt, et idcirco postulas ut demus viris qui lassi sunt, et defecerunt panes.
16
Tulit ergo seniores civitatis et spinas deserti ac tribulos, et contrivit cum eis, atque comminuit viros Soccoth.
17
Turrim quoque Phanuel subvertit, occisis habitatoribus civitatis.
18
Dixitque ad Zebee et Salmana: Quales fuerunt viri, quos occidistis in Thabor? Qui responderunt: Similes tui, et unus ex eis quasi filius regis.
19
Quibus ille respondit: Fratres mei fuerunt, filii matris meæ. vivit Dominus, quia si servassetis eos, non vos occiderem.
20
Dixitque Iether primogenito suo: Surge, et interfice eos. Qui non eduxit gladium: timebat enim, quia adhuc puer erat.
21
Dixeruntque Zebee et Salmana: Tu surge, et irrue in nos: quia iuxta ætatem robur est hominis. Surrexit Gedeon, et interfecit Zebee et Salmana: et tulit ornamenta ac bullas, quibus colla regalium camelorum decorari solent.
22
Dixeruntque omnes viri Israel ad Gedeon: Dominare nostri tu, et filius tuus, et filius filii tui: quia liberasti nos de manu Madian.
23
Quibus ille ait: Non dominabor vestri, nec dominabitur in vos filius meus, sed dominabitur vobis Dominus.
24
Dixitque ad eos: Unam petitionem postulo a vobis: Date mihi inaures ex præda vestra. Inaures enim aureas Ismaelitæ habere consueverant.
25
Qui responderunt: Libentissime dabimus. Expandentesque super terram pallium, proiecerunt in eo inaures de præda:
26
et fuit pondus postulatarum inaurium, mille septingenti auri sicli, absque ornamentis, et monilibus, et veste purpurea, quibus reges Madian uti soliti erant, et præter torques aureas camelorum.
27
Fecitque ex eo Gedeon Ephod, et posuit illud in civitate sua Ephra. Fornicatusque est omnis Israel in eo, et factum est Gedeoni et omni domui eius in ruinam.
28
Humiliatus est autem Madian coram filiis Israel, nec potuerunt ultra cervices elevare: sed quievit terra per quadraginta annos, quibus Gedeon præfuit.
29
Abiit itaque Ierobaal filius Ioas, et habitavit in domo sua:
30
habuitque septuaginta filios, qui egressi sunt de femore eius: eo quod plures haberet uxores.
31
Concubina autem illius, quam habebat in Sichem, genuit ei filium nomine Abimelech.
32
Mortuusque est Gedeon filius Ioas in senectute bona, et sepultus est in sepulchro Ioas patris sui in Ephra de familia Ezri.
33
Postquam autem mortuus est Gedeon, aversi sunt filii Israel, et fornicati sunt cum Baalim. Percusseruntque cum Baal fœdus, ut esset eis in deum:
34
nec recordati sunt Domini Dei sui, qui eruit eos de manibus inimicorum suorum omnium per circuitum:
35
nec fecerunt misericordiam cum domo Ierobaal Gedeon iuxta omnia bona, quæ fecerat Israeli.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you treated us this way, that you didn’t call us when you went to fight with Midian?” They rebuked him sharply.
2
He said to them, “What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
3
God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that.
4
Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing.
5
He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6
The princes of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”
7
Gideon said, “Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”
8
He went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.
9
He spoke also to 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 armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.
11
Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army; for the army felt secure.
12
Zebah and Zalmunna fled and he pursued them. He took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and confused all the army.
13
Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.
14
He caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him; and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and its elders, seventy-seven men.
15
He came to the men of Succoth, and said, “See Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’”
16
He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
17
He broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.
18
Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “They were like you. They all resembled the children of a king.”
19
He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”
20
He said to Jether his firstborn, “Get up and kill them!” But the youth didn’t draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.
21
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.
22
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you, your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”
23
Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. The LORD shall rule over you.”
24
Gideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
25
They answered, “We will willingly give them.” They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his plunder into it.
26
The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, in addition to the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their camels’ necks.
27
Gideon made an ephod out of it, and put it in Ophrah, his city. Then all Israel played the prostitute with it there; and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
28
So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
29
Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.
30
Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body, for he had many wives.
31
His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.
32
Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33
As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.
34
The children of Israel didn’t remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;
35
neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And the men of Ephraim say unto him, `What <FI>is<Fi> this thing thou hast done to us--not to call for us when thou didst go to fight with Midian?' and they strive with him severely;
2
and he saith unto them, `What have I done now like you? are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the harvest of Abi-Ezer?
3
Into your hand hath God given the heads of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what have I been able to do like you?' Then their temper desisted from off him in his speaking this thing.
4
And Gideon cometh in unto the Jordan, passing over, he and the three hundred men who <FI>are<Fi> with him--wearied, and pursuing,
5
and he saith to the men of Succoth, `Give, I pray you, cakes of bread to the people who <FI>are<Fi> at my feet, for they <FI>are<Fi> wearied, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna kings of Midian.'
6
And the heads of Succoth say, `Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we give to thy host bread?'
7
And Gideon saith, `Therefore--in Jehovah's giving Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand--I have threshed your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with the threshing instruments.'
8
And he goeth up thence <FI>to<Fi> Penuel, and speaketh unto them thus; and the men of Penuel answer him as the men of Succoth answered.
9
And he speaketh also to the men of Penuel, saying, `In my turning back in peace, I break down this tower.'
10
And Zebah and Zalmunna <FI>are<Fi> in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand, all who are left of all the camp of the sons of the east; and those falling <FI>are<Fi> a hundred and twenty thousand men, drawing sword.
11
And Gideon goeth up the way of those who tabernacle in tents, on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smiteth the camp, and the camp was confident;
12
and Zebab and Zalmunna flee, and he pursueth after them, and captureth the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and all the camp he hath caused to tremble.
13
And Gideon son of Joash turneth back from the battle, at the going up of the sun,
14
and captureth a young man of the men of Succoth, and asketh him, and he describeth unto him the heads of Succoth, and its elders--seventy and seven men.
15
And he cometh in unto the men of Succoth, and saith, `Lo Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye reproached me, saying, Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand that we give to thy men who <FI>are<Fi> wearied bread?'
16
And he taketh the elders of the city, and the thorns of the wilderness, and the threshing instruments, and teacheth by them the men of Succoth,
17
and the tower of Penuel he hath broken down, and slayeth the men of the city.
18
And he saith unto Zebah and unto Zalmunna, `How--the men whom ye slew in Tabor?' and they say, `As thou--so they, one--as the form of the king's sons.'
19
And he saith, `My brethren--sons of my mother--they; Jehovah liveth, if ye had kept them alive--I had not slain you.'
20
And he saith to Jether his first-born, `Rise, slay them;' and the young man hath not drawn his sword, for he hath been afraid, for he <FI>is<Fi> yet a youth.
21
And Zebah saith--also Zalmunna--`Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man--his might;' and Gideon riseth, and slayeth Zebah and Zalmunna, and taketh their round ornaments which <FI>are<Fi> on the necks of their camels.
22
And the men of Israel say unto Gideon, `Rule over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, for thou hast saved us from the hand of Midian.'
23
And Gideon saith unto them, `I do not rule over you, nor doth my son rule over you; Jehovah doth rule over you.'
24
And Gideon saith unto them, `Let me ask of you a petition, and give ye to me each the ring of his prey, for they have rings of gold, for they <FI>are<Fi> Ishmaelites.'
25
And they say, `We certainly give;' and they spread out the garment, and cast thither each the ring of his prey;
26
and the weight of the rings of gold which he asked is a thousand and seven hundred <FI>shekels<Fi> of gold, apart from the round ornaments, and the drops, and the purple garments, which <FI>are<Fi> on the kings of Midian, and apart from the chains which <FI>are<Fi> on the necks of their camels,
27
and Gideon maketh it into an ephod, and setteth it up in his city, in Ophrah, and all Israel go a-whoring after it there, and it is to Gideon and to his house for a snare.
28
And Midian is humbled before the sons of Israel, and have not added to lift up their head; and the land resteth forty years in the days of Gideon.
29
And Jerubbaal son of Joash goeth and dwelleth in his own house,
30
and to Gideon there have been seventy sons, coming out of his loin, for he had many wives;
31
and his concubine, who <FI>is<Fi> in Shechem, hath born to him--even she--a son, and he appointeth his name Abimelech.
32
And Gideon son of Joash dieth, in a good old age, and is buried in the burying-place of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-Ezrite.
33
And it cometh to pass, when Gideon <FI>is<Fi> dead, that the sons of Israel turn back and go a-whoring after the Baalim, and set over them Baal-Berith for a god;
34
and the sons of Israel have not remembered Jehovah their God, who is delivering them out of the hand of all their enemies round about,
35
neither have they done kindness with the house of Jerubbaal--Gideon--according to all the good which he did with Israel.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).