Shi Shi Ji_Chapter 8

The Ephraimites said to Gideon, “Why did you treat us like this when you went to war with the Midianites and did not invite us to go with you?”? They had a big argument with Gideon.

And Gideon said to them, Can what I have done be greater than what you have done? Is not Ephraim better than Abiezer in picking the remaining grapes?

God has handed over the two leaders of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, into your hands. How can my actions be greater than yours? When Gideon spoke these words, the anger of the Ephraimites dissipated.

Gideon and his three hundred companions crossed over to the Jordan River, and although they were tired, they still chased after him.

Gideon said to the people of Succoth, “Please bring bread to the people who follow me to eat, because they are tired.”. We chased after the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna.

The leader of the people of Succoth replied, “Zebah and Zalmunna are already in your hands. Do you want us to give bread to your army?”?

And Gideon said, After the Lord delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hands, I wounded you with thorns and briers from the wilderness.

Gideon went up from there to Penuel and said the same to the people there. The people of Penuel answered him the same way as the people of Succoth.

He said to the people of Penuel, When I return in peace, I will demolish this tower.

At that time, Zebah and Zalmunna, along with their army, were all in Kago, with about 15000 people, which was the remaining of the entire army of the people of the East. About 120000 people with knives have been killed.

And Gideon went up from the east side of Noba and Jobiha by the way of the tents, and defeated the army of the Midianites, because they were calm and fearless.

Sabah and Zalmunna fled. Gideon pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and scattered the entire army.

Gideon, the son of Joash, returned from the battle line from Hilezpoo,

Capture a young man from Succoth and ask him, who is the leader and elder of Succoth. He wrote down the names of the seventy seven leaders and elders.

When Gideon arrived at Succoth, he said to the people there, “You used to mock me, saying, ‘Zebah and Zalmunna are already in your hands. Do you make us give bread to the weary people who are with you?'”? Now Simba and Samunna are here.

So he captured the elders of the city and used thorns and briers from the wilderness to teach the people of Succoth.

He also demolished the tower of Penuel and killed the people in that city.

Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of people did you kill on Mount Tabor?”. And he answered, They are like you, each with the style of a prince.

And Gideon said, They are my brothers of the same mother. As the Lord liveth, if you had preserved their lives before, I would not have killed you now.

So he said to his eldest son Yitie, “Get up and kill them.”. But Yitie, being a boy, was afraid and dared not draw his sword.

Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and kill us yourself.”. Because as human beings are, so is strength. Gideon stood up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, taking away the crescent rings on their camels’ necks.

The Israelites said to Gideon, “Since you have saved us from the hands of the Midianites, may you and your children and grandchildren rule over us.”.

Gideon said, I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you, but the Lord will rule over you.

And Gideon said to them, I have something to ask of you, that each of you give me the earrings that you have taken. (Originally, the enemies were Ishmaelites, all of whom wore gold earrings.)

They said, we are willing to give it to you. Spread out a coat, and each person threw their stolen earrings onto it.

The gold earrings that Gideon requested weighed 1700 shekels of gold. In addition, there were moon rings, earrings, and purple clothing worn by King Midian, as well as gold chains on the camel’s neck.

Gideon created an ephod based on this and established it in his own city of Ophrah. Later, the Israelites committed adultery by worshipping the Ephod. This became a trap for Gideon and his entire family.

In this way, the Midianites were subdued by the Israelites and did not dare to look up again.

Jerubbaal, the son of Joash, returned and stayed in his own house.

Gideon had seventy biological sons because he had many wives.

His concubine lived in Shejian and gave birth to a son for him. Gideon named him Abimelech.

Gideon, the son of Joash, died of old age and was buried in Ophrah of the Abiezer tribe, in the tomb of his father Joash.

After Gideon’s death, the Israelites went on to follow the Baals and engage in fornication, making Baalberthu their God.

The Israelites do not remember the Lord their God, who saved them from the hands of their enemies on all sides,

He did not treat his family well according to the kindness that Jerubbaal, Gideon, had shown them.