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Judges 8:21-32
New International Version
Judges 8:21-32
New International Version
21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Come, do it yourself. ‘As is the man, so is his strength.’” So Gideon stepped forward and killed them, and took the ornaments(A) off their camels’ necks.
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.”
23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule(B) over you.” 24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring(C) from your share of the plunder.(D)” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites(E) to wear gold earrings.)
25 They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels,[a] not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains(F) that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod,(G) which he placed in Ophrah,(H) his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare(I) to Gideon and his family.(J)
Gideon’s Death
28 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head(K) again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace(L) forty years.
29 Jerub-Baal(M) son of Joash(N) went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons(O) of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine,(P) who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek.(Q) 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age(R) and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Footnotes
- Judges 8:26 That is, about 43 pounds or about 20 kilograms
Judges 8:21-32
King James Version
Judges 8:21-32
King James Version
21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.
24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
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