²⁵ Then they sat down to eat ^[a]a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of ^(A)Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing ^[b](B)aromatic gum and ^[c](C)balm and ^[d]myrrh, ^[e]on their way to bring them down to Egypt.

Israel Oppressed by Midian

6 Then the sons of Israel ^(A)did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of ^(B)Midian seven years. ² The ^[a]power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves ^(C)the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. ³ For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and ^[b]go against them.

²² Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”

²⁴ Yet Gideon said to them, “I would ^[a]request of you, that each of you give me ^[b]an earring from his spoil.” (For they had gold earrings, because they were ^(A)Ishmaelites.)