*And the children of Israel adid evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand bof Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian †prevailed against Israel: and because of the bMidianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and ccaves, and strong holds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the bMidianites came up, and dthe Amalekites, eand the children of the east, even they came up against them; 4 And they encamped against them, and fdestroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto gGaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither ||sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came has grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel icried unto the Lord.

7 *And it came to pass, when the children of Israel icried unto the Lord because of the bMidianites, 8 That the Lord sent †a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, jI brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; 9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and jdrave them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not kthe gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash lthe Abi-ezrite: and his son *Gideon mthreshed wheat by the winepress, †to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the nangel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is owith thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this pbefallen us? and qwhere be all his miracles rwhich our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the bMidianites. 14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, sGo in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the bMidianites: thave not I sent thee?