Judges 8:1-9

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Gideon’s Triumph and Vengeance

8 And the men of E′phraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight with Mid′ian?” And they upbraided him violently. ² And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of E′phraim better than the vintage of Abi-e′zer? ³ God has given into your hands the princes of Mid′ian, Oreb and Zeeb; what have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him was abated, when he had said this.

⁴ And Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint yet pursuing. ⁵ So he said to the men of Succoth, “Pray, give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmun′na, the kings of Mid′ian.” ⁶ And the officials of Succoth said, “Are Zebah and Zalmun′na already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” ⁷ And Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmun′na into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” ⁸ And from there he went up to Penu′el, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Penu′el answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. ⁹ And he said to the men of Penu′el, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”