Juízes 8

Gideão aplaca os efraimitas e mata os reis dos midianitas

1 Então lhe disseram os homens de Efraim: *Jz 12.1Que é isso que nos fizeste, em não nos chamares, quando foste pelejar contra Midiã? Repreenderam-no asperamente. 2 Respondeu-lhes: Que fiz eu comparável com o que vós fizestes? Não são os rabiscos de Efraim melhores do que a vindima de Abiezer? 3 Deus vos entregou nas mãos os príncipes de Midiã, Orebe e Zeebe; que pude eu fazer de comparável com o que vós fizestes? Então se lhes aplacou a ira, depois que ele dissera isso.

4 Veio Gideão *Jz 7.25ao Jordão, que passou juntamente com os trezentos homens que estavam com ele, desfalecidos, mas perseguindo. 5 Disse aos homens de *Gn 33.17Sucote: Dai uns pães ao povo que me segue, pois estão desfalecidos, e eu vou perseguindo a Zeba e a Zalmuna, reis de Midiã. 6 Responderam os príncipes de Sucote: *Jz 8.15Porventura, já se acham no teu poder as mãos de Zeba e Zalmuna, para que déssemos pão ao teu exército? 7 Tornou-lhes Gideão: Pois, *Jz 7.15quando Jeová me tiver entregado nas mãos a Zeba e a Zalmuna, hei de vos rasgar as carnes com os espinhos do deserto e com os abrolhos. 8 Dali subiu a *Gn 32.30-31Penuel, e falou-lhes da mesma maneira. Os homens de Penuel responderam-lhe como os homens de Sucote lhe haviam respondido. 9 Disse também aos homens de Penuel: Quando eu voltar em paz, *Jz 8.17derrubarei esta torre.

10 Estavam Zeba e Zalmuna em Carcor, com as suas hostes, uns quinze mil homens, os restantes de todo o exército dos filhos do Oriente: *Jz 6.5;7.12;Sl 83.9;Is 9.4pois caíram cento e vinte mil homens que puxavam da espada. 11 Subiu Gideão pelo caminho dos nômades, ao oriente de Noba e Jogbeá, e feriu a hoste inimiga, porque ela se dava por segura. 12 Fugiram Zeba e Zalmuna: Gideão perseguiu-os, prendeu os dois reis de Midiã, Zeba e Zalmuna, e desbaratou toda a hoste.

13 Gideão, filho de Joás, voltou da peleja desde a subida de Heres. 14 Tendo prendido a um moço dos homens de Sucote, o inquiriu. Este lhe deu por escrito os nomes dos príncipes de Sucote, e dos seus anciãos, setenta e sete homens. 15 Veio aos homens de Sucote e disse: Eis aqui Zeba e Zalmuna, a respeito dos quais me motejastes, dizendo: *Jz 8.6Porventura, se acham no teu poder as mãos de Zeba e Zalmuna, para que déssemos pão aos teus homens que estão desfalecidos? 16 Tomou os anciãos da cidade, e espinhos do deserto e abrolhos e, com eles, ensinou aos homens de Sucote. 17 *Jz 8.9Derrubou também a torre de Penuel e matou os homens da cidade.

18 Disse a Zeba e Zalmuna: Que sorte de homens eram os que matastes em Tabor? Responderam eles: Como és tu, assim eram eles; cada um parecia filho de rei. 19 Gideão tornou: Eles eram meus irmãos, filhos de minha mãe; por Jeová, que se vós tivésseis poupado a vida a eles, eu não vos mataria! 20 Então, disse a Jéter, seu primogênito: Levanta-te e mata-os. O mancebo, porém, não puxou da espada; pois temia, porque ainda era moço. 21 Disseram Zeba e Zalmuna: Levanta-te e lança-te sobre nós, porque qual o homem, tal a sua força. *Sl 83.11Levantando-se Gideão, matou a Zeba e a Zalmuna, e *Jz 8.26tirou os colares que estavam aos pescoços dos seus camelos.

Gideão recusa governar, faz um éfode e morre

22 Então, disseram os homens de Israel a Gideão: Domina sobre nós, tanto tu, e teu filho, bem como o filho de teu filho; porque nos livraste do poder de Midiã. 23 Gideão respondeu-lhes: Eu não dominarei sobre vós, nem sobre vós dominará meu filho; Jeová vos dominará. 24 Disse-lhes mais Gideão: Permiti-me fazer-vos um pedido: dá-me cada um as arrecadas do seu despojo. (Porque os ismaelitas usavam arrecadas de ouro.) 25 Eles responderam: De boa vontade as daremos. Estenderam uma capa, e cada um deles deitou ali as arrecadas do seu despojo. 26 O peso das arrecadas de ouro, que pediu, foi mil e setecentos siclos de ouro (afora os colares, e os pendentes, e os vestidos de púrpura que os reis de Midiã trajavam, e afora as cadeias que estavam aos pescoços dos seus camelos). 27 Dele fez Gideão um *Jz 17.5;18.14-20;Êx 28.6-35éfode, e colocou-o na sua cidade de Ofra; ali ia todo o Israel a idolatrá-lo; e foi um laço para Gideão e sua casa. 28 Foram abatidos os midianitas diante dos filhos de Israel e nunca mais levantaram a cabeça. A terra teve descanso quarenta anos nos dias de Gideão.

29 Retirou-se *Jz 7.1Jerubaal, filho de Joás, e habitou em sua casa. 30 Gideão teve *Jz 9.2,5setenta filhos que saíram da sua coxa, porque tinha muitas mulheres. 31 A sua concubina que morava em Siquém deu-lhe à luz também um filho; e ele lhe pôs por nome Abimeleque. 32 Morreu Gideão, filho de Joás, numa boa velhice, e foi sepultado no sepulcro de seu pai, Joás, em Ofra dos abiezritas.

33 Logo que morreu Gideão, *Jz 2.11-12tornaram os filhos de Israel a idolatrarem os Baalins e fizeram a *Jz 9.4,27,46Baal-Berite o seu deus. 34 Os filhos de Israel *Jz 3.7;Dt 4.9não se lembraram de Jeová, seu Deus, que os havia libertado da mão de todos os seus inimigos ao redor; 35 nem usaram de beneficência para com a casa de Jerubaal, o qual é Gideão, segundo toda a bondade que ele havia mostrado para com Israel.

1 And the men of Ephraim 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.*8.1 Why…: Heb. What thing is this thou hast done unto us*8.1 sharply: Heb. strongly 2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? 3 God 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.*8.3 anger: Heb. spirit

4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 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.

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? 7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.*8.7 tear: Heb. thresh

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. 9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

10 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 an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.*8.10 men that…: or, every one drawing a sword

11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 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.*8.12 discomfited: Heb. terrified

13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.*8.14 described: Heb. writ 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? 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.*8.16 taught: Heb. made to know 17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

18 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.*8.18 resembled…: Heb. according to the form, etc 19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 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.*8.21 ornaments: or, ornaments like the moon

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.*8.26 collars: or, sweet jewels 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.*8.30 of his…: Heb. going out of his thigh 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.*8.31 called: Heb. set

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 Abi-ezrites. 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.