Add parallel Print Page Options

Gideon Defeats Midian

33 All the Midianites, the Amalekites and other peoples from the east joined together. They came across the Jordan River and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the Lord entered Gideon! Gideon blew a trumpet to call the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers to all of Manasseh. The people of Manasseh were called to follow Gideon. Gideon also sent messengers to the people of Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali. They also went up to meet Gideon and his men.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “You said you would help me save Israel. 37 I will put some wool on the threshing floor. Let there be dew only on the wool. But let all of the ground be dry. Then I will know what you said is true. I will know that you will use me to save Israel.” 38 And that is just what happened. Gideon got up early the next morning and squeezed the wool. He got a full bowl of water from the wool.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Don’t be angry with me. Let me ask just one more thing. Please let me make one more test. Let the wool be dry while the ground around it gets wet with dew.” 40 That night God did that very thing. Just the wool was dry, but the ground around it was wet with dew.

Read full chapter

33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites(A) and other eastern peoples(B) joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.(C) 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on(D) Gideon, and he blew a trumpet,(E) summoning the Abiezrites(F) to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher,(G) Zebulun and Naphtali,(H) so that they too went up to meet them.(I)

36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save(J) Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece(K) on the threshing floor.(L) If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know(M) that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request.(N) Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.(O)

Read full chapter