1Then the sonsof Israeldidwhatwas evilin the sightof the LORD;and the LORDgavethem into the handsof Midiansevenyears.2The powerof MidianprevailedagainstIsrael.Becauseof Midianthe sonsof Israelmadefor themselves the denswhichwere in the mountainsand the cavesand the strongholds.3For it was whenIsraelhad sown,that the Midianiteswould comeup with the Amalekitesand the sonsof the eastand goagainstthem.4So they would campagainstthem and destroythe produceof the earthas faras Gaza,and leavenosustenancein Israelas well as no sheep,ox,or donkey.5For they would comeup with their livestockand their tents,they would comein like locustsfor number,both they and their camelswere innumerable;and they cameinto the landto devastateit.6So Israelwas broughtverylowbecauseof Midian,and the sonsof Israelcriedto the LORD.
7Now it cameabout whenthe sonsof Israelcriedto the LORDon accountof Midian,8that the LORDsenta prophetto the sonsof Israel,and he saidto them, "Thussaysthe LORD,the Godof Israel,'It was I who broughtyou up from Egyptand broughtyou out from the houseof slavery.9I deliveredyou from the handsof the Egyptiansand from the handsof allyour oppressors,and dispossessedthem beforeyou and gaveyou their land,10and I saidto you, "I am the LORDyour God;you shall not fearthe godsof the Amoritesin whoselandyou live.But you have not obeyedMe."'"
11Then the angelof the LORDcameand satunderthe oakthat was in Ophrah,whichbelonged to Joashthe Abiezriteas his sonGideonwas beatingout wheatin the winepressin order to save[it] from the Midianites.12The angelof the LORDappearedto him and saidto him, "The LORDis with you, O valiantwarrior."13Then Gideonsaidto him, "Omy lord,if the LORDis with us, whythen has allthishappenedto us? And whereare allHis miracleswhichour fatherstoldus about, saying,'Did not the LORDbringus up from Egypt?'But nowthe LORDhas abandonedus and givenus into the handof Midian."14The LORDlookedat him and said,"Goin thisyour strengthand deliverIsraelfrom the handof Midian.Have I not sentyou?"15He saidto Him, "OLord,howshall I deliverIsrael?Behold,my familyis the leastin Manasseh,and I am the youngestin my father'shouse."16But the LORDsaidto him, "SurelyI will be with you, and you shall defeatMidianas oneman."17So Gideon saidto Him, "IfnowI have foundfavorin Your sight,then showme a signthat it is You who speakwith me.18"Pleasedo not departfrom here,untilI come[back] to You, and bringout my offeringand layit beforeYou." And He said,"I will remainuntilyou return."
19Then Gideonwentin and prepareda younggoatand unleavenedbreadfrom an ephahof flour;he putthe meatin a basketand the brothin a pot,and brought[them] out to him underthe oakand presented[them].20The angelof Godsaidto him, "Takethe meatand the unleavenedbreadand laythem on thisrock,and pourout the broth."And he didso.21Then the angelof the LORDputout the endof the staffthat was in his handand touchedthe meatand the unleavenedbread;and firesprangup from the rockand consumedthe meatand the unleavenedbread.Then the angelof the LORDvanishedfrom his sight.22When Gideonsawthat he was the angelof the LORD,he said,"Alas,O LordGOD!For nowI have seenthe angelof the LORDfaceto face."23The LORDsaidto him, "Peaceto you, do not fear;you shall not die."24Then Gideonbuiltan altarthereto the LORDand namedit The LORDis Peace.To thisdayit is stillin Ophrahof the Abiezrites.
25Now on the samenightthe LORDsaidto him, "Takeyour father'sbulland a secondbullsevenyearsold, and pulldownthe altarof Baalwhichbelongs to your father,and cutdownthe Asherahthat is besideit;26and buildan altarto the LORDyour Godon the topof thisstrongholdin an orderlymanner,and takea secondbulland offera burntofferingwith the woodof the Asherahwhichyou shall cutdown."27Then Gideontooktenmenof his servantsand didas the LORDhad spokento him; and becausehe was too afraidof his father'shouseholdand the menof the cityto doit by day,he didit by night.
28When the menof the cityaroseearlyin the morning,behold,the altarof Baalwas torndown,and the Asherahwhichwas besideit was cutdown,and the secondbullwas offeredon the altarwhich had been built.29They saidto oneanother,"Whodidthisthing?"And when they searchedabout and inquired,they said,"Gideonthe sonof Joashdidthisthing."30Then the menof the citysaidto Joash,"Bringout your son,that he may die,for he has torndownthe altarof Baal,and indeed,he has cutdownthe Asherahwhichwas besideit."31But Joashsaidto allwhostoodagainsthim, "Will you contendfor Baal,orwill you deliverhim? Whoeverwill pleadfor him shall be putto deathby morning.Ifhe is a god,let him contendfor himself, becausesomeone has torndownhis altar."32Therefore on that dayhe namedhim Jerubbaal,that is to say,"Let Baalcontendagainst him," becausehe had torndownhis altar.
33Then allthe Midianitesand the Amalekitesand the sonsof the eastassembledthemselves; and they crossedoverand campedin the valleyof Jezreel.34So the Spiritof the LORDcameupon Gideon;and he blewa trumpet,and the Abiezriteswere calledtogetherto followhim.35He sentmessengersthroughoutManasseh,and they alsowere calledtogetherto followhim; and he sentmessengersto Asher,Zebulun,and Naphtali,and they cameup to meetthem.
36Then Gideonsaidto God,"IfYou willdeliverIsraelthroughme, as You have spoken,37behold,I will puta fleeceof woolon the threshingfloor.Ifthere is dewon the fleeceonly,and it is dryon allthe ground,then I will knowthat You will deliverIsraelthroughme, as You have spoken."38And it was so.When he aroseearlythe nextmorningand squeezedthe fleece,he drainedthe dewfrom the fleece,a bowlfullof water.39Then Gideonsaidto God,"Do not let Your angerburnagainst me that I may speakoncemore;pleaselet me makea testoncemorewith the fleece,let it nowbe dryonlyon the fleece,and let there be dewon allthe ground."40Goddidsothat night;for it was dryonlyon the fleece,and dewwas on allthe ground.
