⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.^(A)

² “Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”^(A)

Gideon’s Idolatry

²² Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have delivered us out of the hand of Midian.”

¹³ Is it too little that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also lord it over us?^{(A) 14} It is clear you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come!”^(B)

¹⁵ Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, “Pay no attention to their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed any one of them.”^(C)

¹⁹ Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God and bring their cases to God.^(A)

¹⁶ When they have a dispute, they come to me, and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.”

³¹ These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites.^(A)