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 make a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

²⁵ And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a garment, and cast therein every man the earrings from his spoil.

²⁶ And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides ornaments and collars and purple raiment that were on the kings of Midian, and besides 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.