The Pursuit and Refusal of Aid

4

By now Gid'on and his three hundred men had come to the Yarden and crossed over. They were exhausted but were still pursuing the enemy.

5

In Sukkot he asked the people there, "Please give some loaves of bread to the men following me, because they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zevach and Tzalmuna the kings of Midyan."

6

But the chiefs of Sukkot said, "You haven't captured Zevach and Tzalmuna yet, so why should we give bread to your army?"

7

Gid'on said: "If that's your answer, then after ADONAI has put Zevach and Tzalmuna in my hands, I will tear your flesh apart with desert thorns and thistles!"

8

From there he went up to P'nu'el and made the same request, and the people of P'nu'el gave the same answer as those of Sukkot.

9

So he answered the people of P'nu'el similarly, "When I return safe and sound, I will break down this tower!"

10

Now Zevach and Tzalmuna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all that remained of the entire army of the people from the east; since 120,000 arms-bearing soldiers had fallen.

11

Gid'on went up, using the route of the nomads east of Novach and Yogbehah, and struck down the army when they thought they were safe.

12

Zevach and Tzalmuna fled, but Gid'on pursued them. Thus he captured the two kings of Midyan, Zevach and Tzalmuna, and routed their whole army in panic.

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