⁶ The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal:^(A) “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

¹⁶ Then the Lord raised up judges,^[a](A) who saved^(B) them out of the hands of these raiders.

¹⁸ Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved^(A) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented^(B) because of their groaning^(C) under those who oppressed and afflicted^(D) them.

¹⁴ The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have^(A) and save^(B) Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

¹⁵ “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan^(C) is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.^(D)”

¹⁶ The Lord answered, “I will be with you^(E), and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

¹⁷ Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign^(F) that it is really you talking to me. ¹⁸ Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”

¹⁹ Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat,^(G) and from an ephah^[a](H) of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.^(I)