²⁹ Then Gideon^[a] son of Joash returned home.

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

7 So Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.

³² From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.

¹⁴ For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes^[a]—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. ¹⁵ The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces^[b] of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.

¹¹ Then the Lord sent Gideon,^[a] Bedan,^[b] Jephthah, and Samuel^[c] to save you, and you lived in safety.