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Shaphatiym 8

Shaphatiym chapter 8 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.

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8:1

The Pursuit of Midian and the Snare of the Ephod

And the men of Aphrayiym said unto him, "Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites?" And they did chide with him sharply.
8:2
And he said unto them, "What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Aphrayiym better than the vintage of Abiezer?"
8:3
"Alahiym hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you?" Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
8:4

The Treason of Succoth and Penuel

And Gid'un came to Yardan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
8:5
And he said unto the men of Succoth, "Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian."
8:6
And the princes of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?"
8:7
And Gid'un said, "Therefore when 𐀉𐀄𐀅𐀄 hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers."
8:8
And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
8:9
And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower."
8:10

The Capture of the Midianite Kings

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
8:11
And Gid'un went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Yogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.
8:12
And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
8:13

The Judgment of Succoth and Penuel

And Gid'un the son of Yoash returned from battle before the sun was up,
8:14
And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
8:15
And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, "Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?"
8:16
And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
8:17
And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
8:18

The Execution of Zebah and Zalmunna

Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, "What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor?" And they answered, "As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king."
8:19
And he said, "They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as 𐀉𐀄𐀅𐀄 liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you."
8:20
And he said unto Yether his firstborn, "Up, and slay them." But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
8:21
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength." And Gid'un arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
8:22

The Rejection of the Carnal Kingship

Then the men of Yashar'al said unto Gid'un, "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."
8:23
And Gid'un said unto them, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: 𐀉𐀄𐀅𐀄 shall rule over you."
8:24

The Snare of the Golden Ephod

And Gid'un 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 Yishma’elites.)
8:25
And they answered, "We will willingly give them." And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
8:26
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.
8:27
And Gid'un made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Yashar'al went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gid'un, and to his house.
8:28

The End of Gid'un's Era

Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Yashar'al, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gid'un.
8:29
And Yerubbaal the son of Yoash went and dwelt in his own house.
8:30
And Gid'un had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
8:31
And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
8:32
And Gid'un the son of Yoash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Yoash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
8:33

The Relapse into Idolatry

And it came to pass, as soon as Gid'un was dead, that the children of Yashar'al turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their alahiym.
8:34
And the children of Yashar'al remembered not 𐀉𐀄𐀅𐀄 their Alahiym, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
8:35
Neither showed they kindness to the house of Yerubbaal, namely, Gid'un, according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Yashar'al.