Judges 8:1–9

The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?” And they argued with him violently.

2 So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaningg of Ephraim better than the grape harvesth of Abiezer? 3 God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he said this, their anger against him subsided.

GIDEON PURSUES THE KINGS OF MIDIAN

4 Gideon and the three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit. 5 He said to the men of Succoth,a “Please give some loaves of bread to the troops under my command,B because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

6 But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army?”

7 Gideon replied, “Very well, when the Lord has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tearA your flesh with thorns and briers from the wilderness!” 8 He went from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuelb answered just as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 He also told the men of Penuel, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower!”