Jueces 8

Douay-Rheims Challoner (1752)

1And the men of Ephraim said to him: What is this that thou meanest to do, that thou wouldst not call us, when thou wentest to fight against Madian? And they chid him sharply, and almost offered violence.

2And he answered them: What could I have done like to that which you have done? Is not one bunch of grapes of Ephraim better than the vintages of Abiezer?

3The Lord hath delivered into your hands the princes of Madian, Oreb and Zeb: what could I have done like to what you have done? And when he had said this, their spirit was appeased, with which they swelled against him.

4And when Gedeon was come to the Jordan, he passed over it with the three hundred men that were with him: who were so weary that they could not pursue after them that fled.

5And he said to the men of Soccoth: Give, I beseech you, bread to the people that is with me, for they are faint: that we may pursue Zebee, and Salmana, the kings of Madian.

6The princes of Soccoth answered: Peradventure the palms of the hands of Zebee and Salmana are in thy hand, and therefore thou demandest that we should give bread to thy army.

7And he said to them: When the Lord therefore shall have delivered Zebee and Salmana into my hands, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the desert.

8And going up from thence, he came to Phanuel: and he spoke the like things to the men of that place. And they also answered him, as the men of Soccoth had answered.

9He said, therefore, to them also: When I shall return a conqueror in peace, I will destroy this tower.

10But Zebee and Salmana were resting with all their army. For fifteen thousand men were left of all the troops of the eastern people, and one hundred and twenty thousand warriors that drew the sword were slain.

11And Gedeon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents, on the east of Nobe and Jegbaa, and smote the camp of the enemies, who were secure, and suspected no hurt.

12And Zebee and Salmana fled, and Gedeon pursued and took them, all their host being put in confusion.

13And returning from the battle before the sun rising,

14He took a boy of the men of Soccoth: and he asked him the names of the princes and ancients of Soccoth, and he described unto him seventy-seven men.

15And he came to Soccoth, and said to them: Behold Zebee, and Salmana, concerning whom you upbraided me, saying: Peradventure the hands of Zebee and Salmana are in thy hands, and therefore thou demandest that we should give bread to the men that are weary and faint.

16So he took the ancients of the city, and thorns and briers of the desert, and tore them with the same, and cut in pieces the men of Soccoth.

17And he demolished the tower of Phanuel, and slew the men of the city.

18And he said to Zebee and Salmana: What manner of men were they, whom you slew in Thabor? They answered: They were like thee, and one of them as the son of a king.

19He answered them: They were my brethren, the sons of my mother. As the Lord liveth, if you had saved them, I would not kill you.

20And he said to Jether, his eldest son: Arise, and slay them. But he drew not his sword: for he was afraid, being but yet a boy.

21And Zebee and Salmana said: Do thou rise and run upon us: because the strength of a man is according to his age: Gedeon rose up, and slew Zebee and Salmana: and he took the ornaments and bosses, with which the necks of the camels of kings are wont to be adorned.

22And all the men of Israel said to Gedeon: Rule thou over us, and thy son, and thy son's son: because thou hast delivered us from the hand of Madian.

23And he said to them: I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you, but the Lord shall rule over you.

24And he said to them: I desire one request of you: Give me the earlets of your spoils. For the Ismaelites were accustomed to wear golden earlets.

25They answered: We will give them most willingly. And spreading a mantle on the ground, they cast upon it the earlets of the spoils.

26And the weight of the earlets that he requested, was a thousand seven hundred sicles of gold, besides the ornaments, and jewels, and purple raiment, which the kings of Madian were wont to use, and besides the golden chains that were about the camels necks.

27And Gedeon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city Ephra. And all Israel committed fornication with it, and it became a ruin to Gedeon, and to all his house.

28But Madian was humbled before the children of Israel, neither could they any more lift up their heads: but the land rested for forty years, while Gedeon presided.

29So Jerobaal, the son of Joas, went and dwelt in his own house:

30And he had seventy sons, who came out of his thigh, for he had many wives.

31And his concubine, that he had in Sichem, bore him a son, whose name was Abimelech.

32And Gedeon, the son of Joas died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father, in Ephra, of the family of Ezri.

33But after Gedeon was dead, the children of Israel turned again, and committed fornication with Baalim. And they made a covenant with Baal, that he should be their god:

34And they remembered not the Lord their God, who delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies round about:

35Neither did they shew mercy to the house of Jerobaal Gedeon, according to all the good things he had done to Israel.

Reina-Valera 1909

1Y LOS de Ephraim le dijeron: ¿Qué es esto que has hecho con nosotros, no llamándonos cuando ibas á la guerra contra Madián? Y reconviniéronlo fuertemente.

2A los cuales él respondió: ¿Qué he hecho yo ahora como vosotros? ¿No es el rebusco de Ephraim mejor que la vendimia de Abiezer?

3Dios ha entregado en vuestras manos á Oreb y á Zeeb, príncipes de Madián: ¿y qué pude yo hacer como vosotros? Entonces el enojo de ellos contra él se aplacó, luego que él habló esta palabra.

4Y vino Gedeón al Jordán para pasar, él y los trescientos hombres que traía consigo, cansados del alcance.

5Y dijo á los de Succoth: Yo os ruego que deis á la gente que me sigue algunos bocados de pan; porque están cansados, y yo persigo á Zeba y á Zalmunna, reyes de Madián.

6Y los principales de Succoth respondieron: ¿Está ya la mano de Zeba y Zalmunna en tu mano, para que hayamos nosotros de dar pan á tu ejército?

7Y Gedeón dijo: Pues cuando Jehová hubiere entregado en mi mano á Zeba y á Zalmunna, yo trillaré vuestra carne con espinas y abrojos del desierto.

8Y de allí subió á Penuel, y hablóles las mismas palabras. Y los de Penuel le respondieron como habían respondido los de Succoth.

9Y él habló también á los de Penuel, diciendo: Cuando yo tornare en paz, derribaré esta torre.

10Y Zeba y Zalmunna estaban en Carcor, y con ellos su ejército de como quince mil hombres, todos los que habían quedado de todo el campo de los orientales: y los muertos habían sido ciento veinte mil hombres que sacaban espada.

11Y subiendo Gedeón hacia los que habitaban en tiendas, á la parte oriental de Noba y de Jogbea, hirió el campo, porque estaba el ejército sin recelo.

12Y huyendo Zeba y Zalmunna, él los siguió; y tomados los dos reyes de Madián, Zeba y Zalmunna, espantó á todo el ejército.

13Y Gedeón hijo de Joas volvió de la batalla antes que el sol subiese;

14Y tomó un mozo de los de Succoth, y preguntándole, él le dió por escrito los principales de Succoth y sus ancianos, setenta y siete varones.

15Y entrando á los de Succoth, dijo: He aquí á Zeba y á Zalmunna, sobre los cuales me zaheristeis, diciendo: ¿Está ya la mano de Zeba y de Zalmunna en tu mano, para que demos nosotros pan á tus hombres cansados?

16Y tomó á los ancianos de la ciudad, y espinas y abrojos del desierto, y castigó con ellos á los de Succoth.

17Asimismo derribó la torre de Penuel, y mató á los de la ciudad.

18Luego dijo á Zeba y á Zalmunna: ¿Qué manera de hombres tenían aquellos que matasteis en Tabor? Y ellos respondieron: Como tú, tales eran aquellos ni más ni menos, que parecían hijos de rey.

19Y él dijo: Mis hermanos eran, hijos de mi madre: ¡Vive Jehová, que si los hubierais guardado en vida, yo no os mataría!

20Y dijo á Jether su primogénito: Levántate, y mátalos. Mas el joven no desenvainó su espada, porque tenía temor; que aun era muchacho.

21Entonces dijo Zeba y Zalmunna: Levántate tú, y mátanos; porque como es el varón, tal es su valentía. Y Gedeón se levantó, y mató á Zeba y á Zalmunna; y tomó los adornos de lunetas que sus camellos traían al cuello.

22Y los Israelitas dijeron á Gedeón: Sé nuestro señor, tú, y tu hijo, y tu nieto; pues que nos has librado de mano de Madián.

23Mas Gedeón respondió: No seré señor sobre vosotros, ni mi hijo os señoreará: Jehová será vuestro Señor.

24Y díjoles Gedeón: Deseo haceros una petición, que cada uno me dé los zarcillos de su despojo. (Porque traían zarcillos de oro, que eran Ismaelitas.)

25Y ellos respondieron: De buena gana los daremos. Y tendiendo una ropa de vestir, echó allí cada uno los zarcillos de su despojo.

26Y fué el peso de los zarcillos de oro que él pidió, mil y setecientos siclos de oro; sin las planchas, y joyeles, y vestidos de púrpura, que traían los reyes de Madián, y sin los collares que traían sus camellos al cuello.

27Y Gedeón hizo de ellos un ephod, el cual hizo guardar en su ciudad de Ophra: y todo Israel fornicó tras de ese ephod en aquel lugar; y fué por tropiezo á Gedeón y á su casa.

28Así fué humillado Madián delante de los hijos de Israel, y nunca más levantaron su cabeza. Y reposó la tierra cuarenta años en los días de Gedeón.

29Y Jerobaal hijo de Joas fué, y habitó en su casa.

30Y tuvo Gedeón setenta hijos que salieron de su muslo, porque tuvo muchas mujeres.

31Y su concubina que estaba en Sichêm, también le parió un hijo; y púsole por nombre Abimelech.

32Y murió Gedeón hijo de Joas en buena vejez, y fué sepultado en el sepulcro de su padre Joas, en Ophra de los Abiezeritas.

33Y aconteció que como murió Gedeón, los hijos de Israel tornaron, y fornicaron en pos de los Baales, y se pusieron por Dios á Baal-berith.

34Y no se acordaron los hijos de Israel de Jehová su Dios, que los había librado de todos sus enemigos alrededor:

35Ni hicieron misericordia con la casa de Jerobaal Gedeón, conforme á todo el bien que él había hecho á Israel.

King James Version

1And 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.

2And 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?

3God 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.

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

5And 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.

6And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

7And 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.

8And 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.

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

10Now 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.

11And 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.

12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

14And 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.

15And 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?

16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

18Then 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.

19And 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.

20And 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.

21Then 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.

22Then 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.

23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

24And 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.)

25And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

26And 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.

27And 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.

28Thus 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.

29And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

30And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

31And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

32And 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.

33And 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.

34And 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:

35Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

World English Bible

1The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you treated us this way, that you didn’t call us when you went to fight with Midian?” They rebuked him sharply.

2He said to them, “What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

3God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that.

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

5He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

6The princes of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

7Gideon said, “Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”

8He went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.

9He spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.

11Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army; for the army felt secure.

12Zebah and Zalmunna fled and he pursued them. He took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and confused all the army.

13Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.

14He caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him; and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and its elders, seventy-seven men.

15He came to the men of Succoth, and said, “See Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’”

16He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

17He broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.

18Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “They were like you. They all resembled the children of a king.”

19He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”

20He said to Jether his firstborn, “Get up and kill them!” But the youth didn’t draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.

21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.

22Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you, your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”

23Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. The LORD shall rule over you.”

24Gideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

25They answered, “We will willingly give them.” They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his plunder into it.

26The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, in addition to the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

27Gideon made an ephod out of it, and put it in Ophrah, his city. Then all Israel played the prostitute with it there; and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.

28So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

29Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.

30Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body, for he had many wives.

31His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

32Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.

34The children of Israel didn’t remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;

35neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.