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 you slew at Tabor? And they answered, As you are, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
19. And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD lives, if you 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 you, 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.
22. Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule you over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also: for you have 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 you would give me every man the earrings of his spoil. (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 spoil.
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.
27. And Gideon made an ephod of it, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went there and played the harlot with 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, his own offspring: for he had many wives.
31. And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
32. And Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.