1. AND THE men of Ephraim said to Gideon, Why have you treated us like this, not calling us when you went to fight with Midian? And they quarreled with him furiously.
2. And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of [your big tribe of] Ephraim better than the vintage of [my little clan of] Abiezer?
3. God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger toward him was abated when he had said that.
4. And Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the 300 men with him, faint yet pursuing.
5. And he said to the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are faint, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
6. And the princes of Succoth said, Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
7. And Gideon said, For that, when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!
8. And he went from there up to Penuel and made the same request, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had done.
9. And [Gideon] said to the men of Penuel, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
10. Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army–about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the sons of the east, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword.
11. And Gideon went up by the route of those who dwelt in tents east of Nobah and Jogbehah and smote their camp [unexpectedly], for the army thought itself secure.