1 Os homens de Efraim disseram a Gedeão: Por que nos trataste assim, não nos chamando a pelejar contigo contra Madiã? E houve entre eles uma violenta discussão.2 Gedeão respondeu-lhes: Que fiz eu, ao lado do que vós fizestes? Porventura não valem mais os cachos de Efraim que as vindimas de Abieser?3 Foi nas vossas mãos que o Senhor entregou os príncipes de Madiã, Oreb e Zeb. Que pude eu, pois, fazer em comparação do que vós fizestes? E com estas palavras aquietaram-se.4 Gedeão chegou ao Jordão e passou-o com seus trezentos homens, continuando a perseguir o inimigo, apesar de sua fadiga.5 Chegando a Socot, disse aos seus moradores: Dai, peço-vos, pão aos homens que me acompanham, porque estão muito cansados; estou perseguindo Zebéia e Salmana, reis de Madiã.6 Os chefes de Socot responderam-lhe: Tens já talvez em teu poder o punho de Zebéia e de Salmana para que possamos dar pão à tua tropa?7 Pois bem, replicou Gedeão, quando o Senhor me houver entregue nas mãos Zebéia e Salmana, eu vos rasgarei a pele com espinhos e abrolhos do deserto!8 Dali subiu a Fanuel, onde fez o mesmo pedido, mas obteve a mesma resposta que em Socot.9 Gedeão disse-lhes: Quando eu voltar vitorioso, destruirei esta torre.10 Zebéia e Salmana estavam então em Carcor com o seu forte exército, cerca de quinze mil homens, que eram o restante de todo o exército dos filhos do oriente, pois haviam já perecido cento e vinte mil combatentes que manejavam a espada.11 Gedeão subiu pelo caminho dos nômades, a oriente de Nobe e de Jegba, e feriu o acampamento dos inimigos que se julgavam perfeitamente seguros.12 Zebéia e Salmana, reis de Madiã, fugiram, mas foram perseguidos e presos por Gedeão, depois de ter derrotado toda a sua guarnição.13 Gedeão, filho de Joás, voltou da batalha pela subida de Hares.14 Deteve um jovem entre os habitantes de Socot e fez-lhe perguntas. Este escreveu-lhe uma lista com setenta e sete nomes dos chefes de Socot e dos anciãos.15 Gedeão veio ter com os habitantes de Socot e disse-lhes: Eis aqui Zebéia e Salmana a respeito dos quais me insultastes, dizendo: tens já talvez em teu poder o punho de Zebéia e de Salmana, para que possamos dar pão aos teus homens fatigados?16 Tomou então os anciãos da cidade e açoitou-os com espinhos e abrolhos do deserto.17 Destruiu também a torre de Fanuel e matou os habitantes da cidade.18 E disse a Zebéia e a Salmana: Como eram aqueles homens que matastes no Tabor? Eram, responderam-lhe, semelhantes a ti; cada um deles parecia um filho de rei19 Eram meus irmãos, filhos de minha mãe! Juro pelo Senhor, se os tivésseis deixado com vida, eu não vos mataria.20 E disse a Jeter, seu filho primogênito: Levanta-te e mata-os! Mas o jovem não ousou tirar a espada, porque, sendo ainda muito novo, tinha medo.21 Vem tu mesmo, disseram-lhe Zebéia e Salmana, e mata-nos; porque, tal o homem, tal a sua força. Gedeão matou Zebéia e Salmana, e tomou os colares que os camelos traziam ao pescoço.22 Os israelitas disseram a Gedeão: Sê o nosso rei, tu e teu filho, e o filho de teu filho, porque tu nos livraste das mãos dos madianitas.23 Não, respondeu ele, não reinarei sobre vós, nem meu filho tampouco; é o Senhor quem será o vosso rei.24 E ajuntou: Tenho um pedido a vos fazer: que cada um de vós me dê as argolas de vosso despojo. Os inimigos, que eram os ismaelitas, usavam argolas de ouro.25 Eles responderam: Nós tas daremos de muito boa vontade. E, estendendo no chão um manto, lançaram nele as argolas de sua presa.26 O peso das argolas de ouro que ele tinha pedido era de mil e setecentos siclos de ouro, sem contar os colares, brincos e ornamentos de púrpura que costumavam usar os reis de Madiã, afora ainda os colares que traziam seus camelos no pescoço.27 Gedeão fez de tudo isso um efod e o expôs em sua cidade de Efra. Mas todos os israelitas se prostituíram ante esse efod que se tornou, assim, um laço para Gedeão e sua casa.28 Os madianitas foram humilhados diante dos israelitas e não puderam mais levantar a cabeça, de sorte que a terra pôde gozar um repouso de quarenta anos no tempo de Gedeão.29 Jerobaal, filho de Joás, retirou-se e foi habitar em sua casa.30 Teve setenta filhos, saídos todos dele, porque tinha numerosas mulheres.31 Sua concubina, que estava em Siquém, deu-lhe também um filho, que foi chamado Abimelec.32 Morreu Gedeão, filho de Joás, numa ditosa velhice, e foi sepultado no túmulo de Joás, seu pai, em Efra de Abieser.33 Depois de sua morte, os filhos de Israel prostituíram-se de novo com os baal, e tomaram Baal-Berit por seu deus.34 Não se lembraram os israelitas do Senhor, seu Deus, que os tinha livrado das mãos de todos os inimigos que os cercavam,35 nem testemunharam gratidão alguma pela casa de Jerobaal-Gedeão por todos os benefícios que ele tinha feito a Israel.

1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, What is this thing that thou hast done unto us, not to call for us, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they quarrelled with him vehemently.2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi’ezer?3 Into your hand God delivered the princes of Midian, ‘Oreb and Zeeb: and what have I been able to do in comparison with you? Then was their anger abated from him, when he had spoken this speech.4 And Gid’on came to the Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, and in pursuit.5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, a few loaves of bread unto the people that are in my train; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebach and Zalmunna,’ the kings of Midian.6 And the princes of Succoth said, Is the sole of the foot of Zebach and Zalmunna’ now already in thy hand, that we should give unto thy army bread?7 And Gid’on said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebach and Zalmunna’ into my hand, then will I thresh your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spoke unto them in the same manner: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.9 And he said also unto the men of Penuel thus, When I return again in peace, I will break down this tower.10 Now Zebach and Zalmunna’ were in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that had been left of all the camp of the children of the east; but those who had fallen were one hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword.11 And Gid’on went up by the way of those that dwelt in tents, to the east of Nobach and Yogbehah, and smote the camp; but the camp thought itself secure.12 And Zebach and Zalmunna’ fled; but he pursued after them, and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebach and Zalmunna’, and all the camp he discomfited.13 And Gid’on the son of Joash returned from the battle before the rising of the sun,14 And he caught a young man of the people of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he wrote down for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy and seven men.15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold here are Zebach and Zalmunna’, with whom ye derided me, saying, Is the sole of the foot of Zebach and Zalmunna’ now already in thy hand, that we should give unto thy weary men bread?16 And he took the elders of the city, and the thorns of the wilderness and briers, and chastised with them the men of Succoth.17 And the tower of Penuel he beat down, and slew the men of the city.18 And he said unto Zebach and Zalmunna’, What kind of men were those whom ye slew at Tabor! And they answered, As thou art, so were they; one was in form like that of the children of a king.19 And he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the Lord liveth, if ye had spared them alive, I would not slay you.20 And he said unto Yether his first–born, Rise up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.21 Then said Zebach and Zalmunna’, Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gid’on arose, and slew Zebach and Zalmunna’; and he took away the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.22 And the men of Israel said unto Gid’on, Rule thou over us, both thou and thy son, and thy son’s son also; for thou hast delivered us out of the hand of Midian.23 And Gid’on said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.24 And Gid’on said unto them, I would ask one request of you, that ye should give me every man the earring of his booty; for they had had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.25 And they answered, We will willingly give. And they spread out a garment, and they cast therein every man the earring of his booty.26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he had requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; besides the crescent ornaments, and ear–drops, and purple garments that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels’ necks.27 And Gid’on made thereof an ephod, and set it up in his city, in ‘Ophrah: and all Israel went astray after it thither; and it became a snare unto Gid’on, and to his house.28 And Midian was humbled before the children of Israel, so that they lifted not up their head any more. And the country was quiet forty years in the days of Gid’on.29 And Yerubba’al the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.30 And Gid’on had seventy sons begotten of his body; for he had many wives.31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he gave him the name, Abimelech.32 And Gid’on 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, when Gid’on was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went astray after the Be’alim, and made themselves Ba’al–berith for a god.34 And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side.35 Neither showed they kindness to the house of Yerubba’al, namely, Gid’on, in accordance with all the good which he had done unto Israel.