Judges 6:1-10 - Midian Oppresses Israel

¹ Again the people of Israel sinned against Jehovah. Therefore he let the people of Midian rule them for seven years. ² The Midianites were very oppressive over Israel. So much so that the people of Israel hid from them in caves and other safe places in the mountains. ³ When the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites along with the desert tribes attacked them. ⁴ They camped on the land and destroyed the crops as far south as Gaza. They took all the sheep, cattle, and donkeys, and left nothing for the Israelites to live on. ⁵ They came with their livestock and tents, as thick as locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels. They entered the land and destroyed it. ⁶ Israel was helpless against them.

⁷ The people of Israel cried out to Jehovah for help against the Midianites. ⁸ Then Jehovah sent a man, a prophet, to the Israelites. He said to them: Jehovah, the God of Israel says, 'It was I who brought you out of slavery in Egypt. ⁹ I rescued you from the Egyptians and from the people who fought you in this land. I drove them out as you advanced. I gave you their land. ¹⁰ I said to you: 'I am Jehovah your God. You should not worship the gods of the Amorites, whose land you are now living in. But you have not listened to me.'