He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they replied, “They were like you, each one of them resembled the son of a king.” He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” So [to humiliate them] Gideon said to Jether his firstborn, “Stand up, and kill them!” But the youth did not draw his sword, because he was afraid, for he was still [just] a boy. Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself and strike us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent amulets that were on their camels’ necks. Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule [as king] over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have rescued us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.” And Gideon said to them, “I would make a request of you, that each one of you give me an earring from his spoil.” For the Midianites had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites [who customarily wore them].
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Compare All Versions: Judges 8:17-24
5 Days
All throughout the Bible there are stories of ordinary people being used by God to do extraordinary things. Gideon was one such person. As you journey through Gideon's life, our prayer is that you are encouraged and challenged, and that you ultimately remember God is faithful till the end.
9 Days
Called out of addiction to a life of hope, Lance Lang shares stories of others with similar callings. They're Hope Dealers.
Dive deeper into the epic story of Gideon in Judges 6-8 while learning timeless insights relevant to navigating today’s culture. These insights include resilience in adversity, leadership, and fighting spiritual battles. We hope you are encouraged through this study of Gideon in the book of Judges!
14 Days
Gideon was appointed by God to deliver his people from enemies who plundered their land, but Gideon was full of doubt and fear. He did not consider himself a “mighty warrior” at all. Only by faith could he carry out his mission. Let his story encourage you to be a hero, too - not by your power, but by faith in a mighty God.
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