1Then the descendants of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you acted toward us like this? When you went out to fight against the people of Midian, why did you not summon us to help you?” They rebuked Gideon severely.
2But Gideon replied, “I have done RHQ very little compared with what you have done! My small clan of descendants of Abiezer only started the battle, but your very large group of descendants of Ephraim helped me to finish the task very well. It is like the final grapes of the harvest being much better than the first grapes that are picked.
3God enabled you to defeat Oreb and Zeeb, the generals of the army from Midian. That is RHQ much more important than what I did!” After Gideon told them that, they no longer resented what he had done.
4Then Gideon and his 300 men went east and crossed the Jordan River. Although they were very tired, they continued to pursue their enemies.
5When they arrived at Succoth town, Gideon said to the town leaders, “Please give my men some food! They are very tired. We are pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6But the leaders of Succoth replied, “You have not caught RHQ Zebah and Zalmunna yet. So why should we give food to your troops now? Catch them first, and then we will give you food.”
7Gideon replied, “ Because you said that, after Yahweh enables us to defeat Zebah and Zalmunna, we will return. And then we will make whips from thorns from the desert, and with them we will rip the flesh off your bones!”
8From there, Gideon and his 300 men went to Peniel and asked for food there, but the people gave him the same answer.
9So he said to the men of Peniel, “After I defeat those kings, I will return and tear down this tower!”
10By that time, Zebah and Zalmunna had gone to Karkor town with 15,000 troops. They were all that were left of the armies that had come from the east. 120,000 of their men had already been killed.
Judges 8
Judges 8:1-10