When the people of Israel cried out to Yahweh for help because of what the Midianites had done to them,

Yahweh sent a prophet to them. He said, “This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: I brought you out of Egypt. I took you away from slavery.

Yahweh turned to him and said, “You will rescue Israel from Midian with the strength you have. I am sending you.”

Gideon said to him, “Excuse me, sir! How can I rescue Israel? Look at my whole family. It’s the weakest one in Manasseh. And me? I’m the least important member of my family.”

Then Gideon said to Elohim, “You said that you would rescue Israel through me.

I’ll place some wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the wool while all the ground is dry, then I’ll know that you will rescue Israel through me, as you said.”

Yahweh said to Gideon, “You have too many men with you for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag and say, ‘We saved ourselves.’

So Gideon sent the other men of Israel home, but the 300 men who stayed kept all the supplies and rams’ horns. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

His friend replied, “That can only be the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, from Israel. Elohim is going to hand Midian and the whole camp over to him.”

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped Yahweh. Then he went back to the camp of Israel and said, “Attack! Yahweh will hand Midian’s camp over to you.”

The men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh to help pursue the troops of Midian.

Gideon Makes a Gold Idol

The men of Israel said to Gideon, “You, then your son, and then your grandson, must rule us. You rescued us from Midian.”

The men of Israel answered, “Yes, we’ll give them to you.” So they spread out a coat. Each man took the earrings from his loot and dropped them on it.

Then Gideon used the gold to make an idol and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. All Israel chased after it there as though it were a prostitute. It became a trap for Gideon and his family.

The power of Midian was crushed by the people of Israel, and Midian never again became a threat. So the land had peace for 40 years during Gideon’s life.

As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel chased after other gods—the Baals—as though they were prostitutes. They made Baal Berith their god.

The Israelites did not remember Yahweh their Elohim, who had rescued them from all the enemies around them.

And they were not kind to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) despite all the good he had done for Israel.

Abimelech’s Battles

Abimelech ruled Israel for three years.

When the people of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

Tola Serves as Judge

After Abimelech, Tola, who was the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to rescue Israel. Tola was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim.

He judged Israel for 23 years. Tola died and was buried in Shamir.

Jair Serves as Judge

After Tola, Jair from Gilead became a judge. He judged Israel for 22 years.

Israel Sins Again

The people of Israel again did what Yahweh considered evil. They began to serve other gods and goddesses—the Baals and the Astartes—and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned Yahweh and did not serve him.

Yahweh became angry with the people of Israel. So he used the Philistines and Ammonites to defeat them.