1 Then once again the Israelites started disobeying the Lord, so he let the nation of Midian control Israel for seven years. 2 The Midianites were so cruel that many Israelites ran to the mountains and hid in caves.
3 Every time the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites invaded Israel together with the Amalekites and other eastern nations. 4-5 They rode in on their camels, set up their tents, and then let their livestock eat the crops as far as the town of Gaza. The Midianites stole food, sheep, cattle, and donkeys. Like a swarm of locusts, they could not be counted, and they ruined the land wherever they went.
6-7 The Midianites took almost everything that belonged to the Israelites, and the Israelites begged the Lord for help. 8-9 Then the Lord sent a prophet to them with this message:
I am the Lord God of Israel, so listen to what I say. You were slaves in Egypt, but I set you free and led you out of Egypt into this land. And when nations here made life miserable for you, I rescued you and helped you get rid of them and take their land. 10 I am your God, and I told you not to worship Amorite gods, even though you are living in the land of the Amorites. But you refused to listen.
The Lord Chooses Gideon
11 One day an angel from the Lord went to the town of Ophrah and sat down under the big tree that belonged to Joash, a member of the Abiezer clan. Joash's son Gideon was nearby, threshing grain in a shallow pit, where he could not be seen by the Midianites.
12 The angel appeared and spoke to Gideon, “The Lord is helping you, and you are a strong warrior.”
13 Gideon answered, “Please don't take this wrong, but if the Lord is helping us, then why have all of these awful things happened? We've heard how the Lord performed miracles and rescued our ancestors from Egypt. But those things happened long ago. Now the Lord has abandoned us to the Midianites.”
14 Then the Lord himself said, “Gideon, you will be strong, because I am giving you the power to rescue Israel from the Midianites.”
15 Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest one in Manasseh, and everyone else in my family is more important than I am.”
16 “Gideon,” the Lord answered, “you can rescue Israel because I am going to help you! Defeating the Midianites will be as easy as beating up one man.”
17 Gideon said, “It's hard to believe that I'm actually talking to the Lord. Please do something so I'll know that you really are the Lord. 18 And wait here until I bring you an offering.”
“All right, I'll wait,” the Lord answered.
19 Gideon went home and killed a young goat, then started boiling the meat. Next, he opened a big sack of flour and made it into thin bread. When the meat was done, he put it in a basket and poured the broth into a clay cooking pot. He took the meat, the broth, and the bread and placed them under the big tree.
20 God's angel said, “Gideon, put the meat and the bread on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” Gideon did as he was told. 21 The angel was holding a walking stick, and he touched the meat and the bread with the end of the stick. Flames jumped from the rock and burned up the meat and the bread.
When Gideon looked, the angel was gone. 22 Gideon realized that he had seen one of the Lord's angels. “Oh!” he moaned. “Now I'm going to die.”
23 “Calm down!” the Lord told Gideon. “There's nothing to be afraid of. You're not going to die.”
24 Gideon built an altar for worshiping the Lord and called it “The Lord Calms Our Fears.” It still stands there in Ophrah, a town in the territory of the Abiezer clan.
Gideon Tears Down Baal's Altar
25 That night the Lord spoke to Gideon again:
Get your father's second-best bull, the one that's seven years old. Use it to pull down the altar where your father worships Baal and cut down the sacred pole next to the altar. 26 Then build an altar for worshiping me on the highest part of the hill where your town is built. Use layers of stones for my altar, not just a pile of rocks. Cut up the wood from the pole, make a fire, kill the bull, and burn it as a sacrifice to me.
27 Gideon chose ten of his servants to help him, and they did everything God had said. But since Gideon was afraid of his family and the other people in Ophrah, he did it all at night.
28 When the people of the town got up the next morning, they saw that Baal's altar had been knocked over, and the sacred pole next to it had been cut down. Then they noticed the new altar covered with the remains of the sacrificed bull.
29 “Who could have done such a thing?” they asked. And they kept on asking, until finally someone told them, “Gideon the son of Joash did it.”
30 The men of the town went to Joash and said, “Your son Gideon knocked over Baal's altar and cut down the sacred pole next to it. Hand him over, so we can kill him!”
31 The crowd pushed closer and closer, but Joash replied, “Are you trying to take revenge for Baal? Are you trying to rescue Baal? If you are, you will be the ones who are put to death, and it will happen before another day dawns. If Baal really is a god, let him take his own revenge on someone who tears down his altar.”
32 That same day, Joash changed Gideon's name to Jerubbaal, explaining, “He tore down Baal's altar, so let Baal take revenge himself.”
Gideon Defeats the Midianites
33 All the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern nations got together and crossed the Jordan River. Then they invaded the land of Israel and set up camp in Jezreel Valley.
34 The Lord's Spirit took control of Gideon, and Gideon blew a trumpet as a signal for the men in the Abiezer clan to follow him. 35 He also sent messengers to the tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, telling the men of these tribes to come and join his army. Then they set out toward the enemy camp.
36-37 Gideon prayed to God, “I know that you promised to help me rescue Israel, but I need proof. Tonight I'll spread a sheep skin on the stone floor of that threshing-place over there. If you really will help me rescue Israel, then tomorrow morning let there be dew on the skin, but let the stone floor be dry.”
38 And that's just what happened. Early the next morning, Gideon got up and checked the sheep skin. He squeezed out enough water to fill a bowl. 39 But Gideon prayed to God again. “Don't be angry with me,” Gideon said. “Let me try this just one more time, so I'll really be sure you'll help me. Only this time, let the skin be dry and the stone floor be wet.”
40 That night, God made the stone floor wet with dew, but he kept the sheep skin dry.
Omaisaneno wa Gideon okukutura Ovaisrael kOvamidian
1 NOvaisrael tji va za nokutjita ouvi rukwao komurungu wa Muhona, eye otje ve yandja momake wOvamidian oure wozombura hambombari. 2 NOvamidian va ṋiṋikiza Ovaisrael nomasa tjinene; nu mena rokutira Ovamidian, Ovaisrael va kaṱara motupoko twozondundu, mozondimba na moviṱunga. 3 Aruhe Ovaisrael tjaave kunu, Ovamidian nOvaamalek nomihoko vyokomuhuka tjandje mave ve hingire ovita. 4 Owo aave tono ozondanda mehi rOvaisrael nave nyono ovinikora mehi arihe nga kOgasa. Owo kave syere mo oviparure mOisrael, nandarire onyanda poo ongombe poo okasino. 5 Owo ve ya notupanda twawo twovinamuinyo nozondanda zawo tjimuna ovimbumba vyozombahu; owo nozongamero zawo kaave sora okuvarwa. Komuhingo mbwi opu va hitira mehi nave nyono ro. 6 Ovaisrael va muna ouzeu tjinene kOvamidian; nowo va ura ku Muhona.
7 NOvaisrael tji va ura ku Muhona mena rokutatumisiwa i Ovamidian, 8 Muhona otje ve hindira omuprofete ngwa tjere ku wo: “Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel, ma tja: ‘Owami omuini ngu mbe mu pitisire mouhuura mOengipte. 9 Ami mbe mu yama momake wOvaengipte, nowovemuṋiṋikize avehe, ne ve ramba komurungu weṋu, nehi rawo mba yandja ku eṋe. 10 Ami mbe mu raera kutja owami Muhona, Ndjambi weṋu; amu rikotamene koomukuru vOvaamori, imba vehi mu mwa tura. Nungwari kamu puratenene ko keraka randje.’ ”
11 Omuengeri wa Muhona weya na kahaama kehi yomumborombonga motjirongo tja Ofra mbwa ri owa Joas, Omuabiesri, omuzandu we Gideon ngunda ama tondo ovikokotwa motjitondero kutja e vi horeke kOvamidian. 12 Nomuengeri wa Muhona we rimunikisa ku ye a tja: “Muhona u ri puna ove, mbanḓe ombangaṋe!”
13 Gideon we mu pura a tja: “Arikana, muhona wandje, Muhona tje ri puna eṱe okutjavi oviṋa mbi avihe tji mavi tjitwa ku eṱe? Nu imbi ovitjitwa vye ovihimise vi ri pi ootate mbi ve tu raera, indu tji va tja Muhona we tu pitisire mOengipte? Nambano Muhona we tu imbirahi, nu we tu yandja momake wOvamidian.”
14 Muhona opa rakiza ku ye na tja: “Nambano kawondje nomasa woye aehe ngu u na wo u kakuture Ovaisrael meke rOvamidian! Owami Muhona ngu me ku hindi.”
15 Nungwari Gideon we mu pura a tja: “Arikana, Muhona, Ovaisrael meve kutura na tjike? Tara, onganda yandje ondji ri otjingundi tjinene momuhoko wa Manasse, nami omuini owami omuhinanḓengu tjinene meṱunḓu randje.”
16 Muhona wa tja ku ye: “Ami me kara puna ove kutja u nyone Ovamidian aayo owo omurumendu umwe uriri.”
17 Gideon we mu zira na tja: “Ove ndoovazu u notjari na ami, ndji pa otjiraisiro tjokutja oove ngu mo hungire puna ami. 18 Arikana, o zu po mba nga tji mba kotoka kove okukuetera otjiyandjewa tjandje.”
Neye opa tjera nai: “Ami me kara nga ove tji wa kotoka.”
19 Okuzambo Gideon wa hita mondjuwo, a katereka okangombona na ungura omavanda nge hi nosurise wozokirograma omurongo; indji onyama wa twa motjimbamba nomanyuṋe wayo wa twa monyungu; tjazumba e vi pitisa pendje ku ye kehi yomumborombonga, ne kevitwa pehi momurungu we. 20 Nomuengeri wa Ndjambi wa rakiza a tja ku ye: “Toora onyama ndji na inga omavanda nge hi nosurise u vi twe koruuwa ndwi nu inga omanyuṋe u tirire kombanda yavyo.” Nu Gideon wa tjita nao. 21 Omuengeri wa Muhona opa yerera okati ke ka ri na ko meke, na ṱunu na ko onyama nomavanda nge hi nosurise; mwa za omuriro moruuwa au seseta onyama ndji nomavanda nga. Nomuengeri wa Muhona wa zenga momeho we.
22 Nu Gideon tja muna kutja ingwi wa ri omuengeri wa Muhona, arire tja tja: “Owee, Muhona Ndjambi! Ami mba munasana nomuengeri wa Muhona omurungu nomurungu!”
23 Nungwari Muhona wa tja ku ye: “Ohange ngai kare na ove! O tira! Ove komoo ṱu!” 24 Poṋa mbo Gideon wa tungira Muhona otjipunguhiro ne tji ruku kutja: “Muhona eye ohange.” Otjipunguhiro hi nga mba tja kurama mOofra tjOvaabiesri.
25 Nu mouṱuku tjingewo Muhona wa tja nai ku Gideon: “Kambura ondwezu yongombe oitjavari yaiho yozombura hambombari, nu u teye otjipunguhiro tja Baal tji tji ri otjaiho, nu u ke ongunḓe yomukuru wotjisenginina oserekaze Asera, ndji ri meṋe yatjo. 26 Okuzambo tungira Muhona, Ndjambi woye, otjipunguhiro tjomawe nga tendekasana, kondomba yondundu, nu u kambure ondwezu ndji oitjavari, u i punguhe okurira ombunguhiro oningiririsiwa, nu u twe ko ozonguṋe zongunḓe yotjisenginina, indji ndji mo ke, komuriro.” 27 Gideon wa toora ovarumendu omurongo mokati kovakarere ve na tjiti otja Muhona pe mu raerere; nungwari tjinga a tira ovandu veṱunḓu re novarumendu votjihuro okutjita otjiṋa hi mutenya, eye ope tji tjitira ouṱuku.
28 Novature votjihuro tji va penduka omuhuka omunene wependukirwa raindo, arire tji va munu kutja otjipunguhiro tja Baal tja teyerwa pehi, nokutja indji ongunḓe yotjiraisiro tja Asera ndja kuramene meṋe yatjo ya kewa, nokutja ondwezu ndji oitjavari ya punguhirwa kotjipunguhiro tji tja tungirwe mbo. 29 Nowo otji va purasana ave tja: “Owaṋi ngwa tjiti otjiṋa hi?” Nowo tji va za nokukonḓonona nokupura arire tji kwa zu: “Gideon, omuzandu wa Joas, ongwe tji tjiti.” 30 Novature votjihuro va tja ku Joas: “Pitisa omuzandu woye, eye ma sokuṱa, tjinga a teya otjipunguhiro tja Baal, na ke ongunḓe yotjisenginina tja Asera ndja kuramene meṋe yatjo.”
31 Nungwari Joas wa tja nai ku imba avehe mba kuramene puna ye: “Eṋe mamu vanga okurwira Baal are? Poo mamu vanga okumuvatera? Ingwi ngu me mu rwire ma ṱu omuhuka mbunombwi. Tjinangara Baal onguri mukuru nge rirwire omuini, otjipunguhiro tji tja nyanyaurwa tjinga atji ri otje.” 32 Meyuva ndo, Gideon opa rukirwa ena Jerubbaal, Joas tjinga a tja nai: “Baal nge rirwire omuini mena rotjipunguhiro tje tji tja nyanyaurwa.”
33 Ovamidian nOvaamalek avehe nomihoko avihe vyokomuhuka ve rikuta kumwe, ave kondo onḓonḓu Jordan nave katona ozondanda morutjandja rwa Jesreel. 34 Nombepo ya Muhona ya hita mu Gideon; neye wa posisa ohiva, nOvaabieser otji ve mu kongorera. 35 Tjazumba eye wa tuma ovahindwa mehi arihe romuhoko wa Manasse, nowo ve mu kongorera; neye wa tuma ovahindwa komuhoko wa Aser nowa Sebulon nowa Naftali, novyo wina vya sekama okukemuvatera.
36 Gideon wa hungira ku Ndjambi a tja: “Ove, tjiri, tji movanga okukutura Ovaisrael neke randje otja pu wa hungira, 37 osemba uri, ami me yara omukova wonḓu kotjitondero; tji mu nomueme momukova auyerike uriri, indi ehi meṋe yawo ngunda ara kukuta, ami otji me tjiwa kutja ove movanga okukutura Ovaisrael neke randje otja pu wa hungira.” 38 Nu pa tjitwa nao. Gideon tja penduka menyunguhuka wa kama omueme momukova na pitisa mo omeva otjitjuma okuura. 39 Gideon wa hungira ku Ndjambi a tja: “O ṱomazenge na ami, nu ndji yandjera okuhungira rumwe rukwao. Arikana, ndji pa oruveze okurora rumwe uri nomukova mbwi. Tjita kutja omukova auyerike u rire omukukutu, indi ehi arihe meṋe yawo ngunda ari nomueme.” 40 Ndjambi wa tjita nao ouṱuku mbo. Omukova auyerike ombwa kukuta, nungwari imba apehe pehi meṋe yawo pa ri nomueme.
