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Gideon pursues the Midianites

Gideon deals with the people of Succoth and Peniel.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Simplified Chinese
1
When the Midianites fled for their lives, Gideon and his 300 men gave chase. The men of Ephraim captured and executed the Midianite commanders Oreb and Zeeb but Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian, crossed the River Jordan with 15,000 warriors and camped at Karkor. – Slide 1
2
By the time Gideon reached Succoth his men were hungry and exhausted. Gideon begged the town leaders, ‘Please give my warriors food. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.’ – Slide 2
3
The officials of Succoth replied, ‘Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your army.’ Gideon replied, ‘When the Lord gives me victory I will return to punish you with thorns and briars.’ When he arrived in Peniel he again asked for food, but he got the same answer.  Gideon retorted, ‘After I return in victory, I will tear down this tower.’ – Slide 3
4
Gideon circled around by a caravan route to take the Midianite army by surprise. – Slide 4
5
Zebah and Zalmunna, the two Midianite kings, fled, but Gideon gave chase and captured all their warriors. When Gideon discovered Zebah and Zalmunna had killed his own brothers he executed them. – Slide 5
6
Then, Gideon returned to Succoth and taught the 77 town leaders a lesson, punishing them with thorns and briers from the wilderness. He also tore down the tower of Peniel. – Slide 6
7
The Israelites said to Gideon, ‘Be our ruler! You have rescued us from Midian.’ ‘I will not rule over you, nor will my son,’ Gideon replied, ‘The Lord will rule over you!’ – Slide 7
8
Gideon then asked that each of them give him a golden earing plundered from the enemy troops. The weight of the gold earrings was 43Ibs (20kg). Gideon also received golden chains and purple robes taken from the enemy. – Slide 8
9
Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in his home town of Ophrah. However the Israelites started worshipping the ephod and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. – Slide 9
10
During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace for forty years. No sooner had Gideon died, however, than the Israelites started worshipping the idol Baal once more. – Slide 10
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Slide 11