²⁵ As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites^(A) coming from Gilead.^(B) Their camels were loaded with spices, balm^(C) and myrrh,^(D) and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.^(E)

Gideon

6 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,^(A) and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.^{(B) 2} Because the power of Midian was so oppressive,^(C) the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves^(D) and strongholds.^{(E) 3} Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites^(F) and other eastern peoples^(G) invaded the country.

Gideon’s Ephod

²² The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

²⁴ And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring^(A) from your share of the plunder.^(B)” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites^(C) to wear gold earrings.)