And the childrenof Israeldidevilin the sightof the LORD: and the LORDdeliveredthem into the handof Midiansevenyears. And the handof MidianprevailedagainstIsrael: and becauseof the Midianitesthe childrenof Israelmadethem the denswhich are in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds. And so it was, whenIsraelhad sown, that the Midianitescame up, and the Amalekites, and the childrenof the east, even they came upagainstthem; And they encampedagainstthem, and destroyedthe increaseof the earth, tillthou comeunto Gaza, and leftnosustenancefor Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. Fortheycame upwith their cattleand their tents, and they cameasgrasshoppersfor multitude; for both theyand their camelswere withoutnumber: and they enteredinto the landto destroyit. And Israelwas greatlyimpoverishedbecauseof the Midianites; and the childrenof Israelcrieduntothe LORD. And it came to pass, whenthe childrenof Israelcrieduntothe LORDbecause ofthe Midianites, That the LORDsenta prophetuntothe childrenof Israel, which saidunto them, Thussaiththe LORDGodof Israel, Ibrought you upfrom Egypt, and brought you forthout of the houseof bondage; And I deliveredyou out of the handof the Egyptians, and out of the handof allthat oppressedyou, and drove them outfrom beforeyou, and gaveyou their land; And I saidunto you, I am the LORDyour God; fearnotthe godsof the Amorites, in whoselandyedwell: but ye have notobeyedmy voice. And there camean angelof the LORD, and satunderan oakwhich was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joashthe Abi-ezrite: and his sonGideonthreshedwheatby the winepress, to hide it fromthe Midianites. And the angelof the LORDappeareduntohim, and saiduntohim, The LORD is withthee, thou mighty manof valor. And Gideonsaiduntohim, Ohmy Lord, if the LORDbewithus, whythen is allthisbefallenus? and where be allhis miracleswhichour fatherstoldus of, saying, Did notthe LORDbring us upfrom Egypt? but nowthe LORDhath forsakenus, and deliveredus into the handsof the Midianites. And the LORDlookeduponhim, and said, Go inthisthy might, and thou shalt saveIsraelfrom the handof the Midianites: have notI sentthee? And he saiduntohim, Ohmy Lord, wherewithshall I saveIsrael? behold, my family is poorin Manasseh, and I am the leastin my father's house. And the LORDsaiduntohim, SurelyI will bewiththee, and thou shalt smitethe Midianitesas oneman. And he saiduntohim, IfnowI have foundgracein thy sight, then showme a signthat thoutalkestwithme. Departnothence, I pray thee, untilI comeuntothee, and bring forthmy present, and set it beforethee. And he said, Iwill tarryuntilthou come again. And Gideonwent in, and made readya kid, and unleavened cakesof an ephahof flour: the fleshhe putin a basket, and he putthe brothin a pot, and brought it outuntohim underthe oak, and presented it . And the angelof Godsaiduntohim, Takethe fleshand the unleavened cakes, and lay them uponthisrock, and pour outthe broth. And he didso. Then the angelof the LORDput forththe endof the staffthat was in his hand, and touchedthe fleshand the unleavened cakes; and there rose upfireout ofthe rock, and consumedthe fleshand the unleavened cakes. Then the angelof the LORDdepartedout of his sight. And when Gideonperceivedthathe was an angelof the LORD, Gideonsaid, Alas, O LordGOD! forbecauseI have seenan angelof the LORDfacetoface. And the LORDsaidunto him, Peace be unto thee; fearnot: thou shalt notdie. Then Gideonbuiltan altarthereunto the LORD, and calledit Jehovah-shalom: untothisdayit is yetin Ophrahof the Abi-ezrites. And it came to passthe samenight, that the LORDsaidunto him, Takethy father's young bullock, even the secondbullockof sevenyearsold, and throw downthe altarof Baalthatthy fatherhath, and cut downthe grovethat is byit: And buildan altarunto the LORDthy Goduponthe topof thisrock, in the ordered place, and takethe secondbullock, and offera burnt sacrificewith the woodof the grovewhichthou shalt cut down. Then Gideontooktenmenof his servants, and didasthe LORDhad saiduntohim: and so it was, becausehe fearedhis father's household, and the menof the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the menof the cityarose earlyin the morning, behold, the altarof Baalwas cast down, and the grovewas cut downthat was byit, and the secondbullockwas offereduponthe altar that was built. And they saidonetoanother, Whohath donethisthing? And when they inquiredand asked, they said, Gideonthe sonof Joashhath donethisthing. Then the menof the citysaiduntoJoash, Bring outthy son, that he may die: becausehe hath cast downthe altarof Baal, and becausehe hath cut downthe grovethat was byit. And Joashsaidunto allthatstoodagainsthim, Will yepleadfor Baal? will yesavehim? he thatwill pleadfor him, let him be put to deathwhilst it is yet morning: ifhe be a god, let him pleadfor himself, because one hath cast downhis altar. Therefore on thatdayhe calledhim Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baalpleadagainst him, becausehe hath thrown downhis altar. Then allthe Midianitesand the Amalekitesand the childrenof the eastwere gatheredtogether, and went over, and pitchedin the valleyof Jezreel. But the Spiritof the LORDcame uponGideon, and he blewa trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gatheredafterhim. And he sentmessengersthroughout allManasseh; whoalsowas gatheredafterhim: and he sentmessengersunto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came upto meetthem. And GideonsaiduntoGod, Ifthouwilt saveIsraelby mine hand, asthou hast said, Behold, Iwill puta fleeceof woolin the floor; and ifthe dewbeonthe fleeceonly, and it be dryuponallthe earth beside , then shall I knowthatthou wilt saveIsraelby mine hand, asthou hast said. And it wasso: for he rose up earlyon the morrow, and thrustthe fleecetogether, and wrungthe dewout ofthe fleece, a bowlfullof water. And GideonsaiduntoGod, Let notthine angerbe hotagainst me and I will speakbutthis once: let me prove, I pray thee, butthis oncewith the fleece; let it nowbedryonlyuponthe fleece, and uponallthe groundlet there bedew. And Goddidsothatnight: for it wasdryuponthe fleeceonly, and there wasdewonallthe ground.