Judges 8 – KJV & CCB

King James Version

Judges 8:1-35

1And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.8.1 Why…: Heb. What thing is this thou hast done unto us8.1 sharply: Heb. strongly 2And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? 3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.8.3 anger: Heb. spirit

4¶ And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 5And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

6¶ And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 7And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.8.7 tear: Heb. thresh

8¶ And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. 9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

10¶ Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.8.10 men that…: or, every one drawing a sword

11¶ And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.8.12 discomfited: Heb. terrified

13¶ And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 14And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.8.14 described: Heb. writ 15And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.8.16 taught: Heb. made to know 17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

18¶ Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.8.18 resembled…: Heb. according to the form, etc 19And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.8.21 ornaments: or, ornaments like the moon

22¶ Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

24¶ And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 26And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks.8.26 collars: or, sweet jewels 27And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

28¶ Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

29¶ And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.8.30 of his…: Heb. going out of his thigh 31And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.8.31 called: Heb. set

32¶ And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. 33And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. 34And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

士师记 8:1-35

基甸擒杀米甸二王

1后来,以法莲人对基甸说:“你攻打米甸人时为什么不召我们去?你为什么这样对待我们?”他们与他激烈地争论起来。

2基甸说:“我怎能比得上你们呢?以法莲人摘剩的葡萄岂不比我们亚比以谢族收获的葡萄更好吗? 3上帝把两名米甸人的首领俄立西伊伯交在了你们手中,我所做的有哪一件能与这事相比呢?我怎能比得上你们呢?”基甸这么一说,他们的怒气就平息了。

4基甸率领他的三百人渡过约旦河,虽然疲惫不堪,仍紧追敌人。 5基甸疏割的人说:“我们在追赶西巴撒慕拿两个米甸王,十分疲惫,请给我的军队一些饼吃。”

6疏割的首领却说:“你还没有抓到西巴撒慕拿,我们凭什么给你的军队饼吃?”

7基甸说:“好吧,耶和华把西巴撒慕拿交在我们手中后,我必回来用荒野的荆棘抽打你们。”

8基甸又去毗努伊勒提出同样的请求,也遭到拒绝。 9基甸对那里的人说:“我凯旋归来时,必拆毁你们的这座城楼。”

10那时,西巴撒慕拿率领东方各族的残余军队一万五千人驻扎在加各,因为已经有十二万刀兵被杀。 11基甸取道挪巴约比哈东边游牧者走的路,出其不意地突袭米甸人。 12米甸二王西巴撒慕拿逃跑,基甸追上去擒住他们,击溃他们全军。

13约阿施的儿子基甸从战场返回,经过希列斯山坡时, 14抓住一个疏割的青年,问他疏割的首领和长老是谁,他就写下疏割七十七位首领和长老的名字。 15基甸到了疏割,对那里的人说:“你们曾经讥笑我说,‘你还没有抓到西巴撒慕拿,我们凭什么给你疲惫的军队饼吃?’看!西巴撒慕拿在这里!” 16说完,就捉住城中的长老,用荒野的荆棘抽打他们。 17他又去拆毁毗努伊勒的城楼,杀了城里的人。

18基甸西巴撒慕拿:“你们在他泊山杀的人是什么样子?”他们回答说:“他们长得像你,都像王子一样。”

19基甸说:“他们是我同母所生的兄弟,我凭永活的耶和华起誓,如果你们当初不杀他们,今天我就不杀你们了。” 20于是,基甸对长子益帖说:“你杀死他们。”但益帖年纪小,心中害怕,不敢动手。

21西巴撒慕拿基甸说:“你亲自动手吧!这是男子汉做的事。”基甸便亲手杀了他们,拿走了他们骆驼颈上的月牙饰物。

基甸造以弗得

22以色列人对基甸说:“你从米甸人手中救了我们,请你和你的子孙统治我们。”

23基甸回答说:“我和我子孙都不统治你们,统治你们的是耶和华。 24但我有一个要求,请你们把抢来的耳环都给我。”原来米甸人属于以实玛利族,都戴金耳环。

25他们欣然同意,便铺开一件外衣,各自把抢来的金耳环都放在上面, 26重约二十公斤。此外,还有米甸王的月牙饰物、耳坠、紫袍以及骆驼颈上的金链。 27基甸用这些金子造了一件以弗得圣衣,放在自己的家乡俄弗拉。后来,以色列人拜那件以弗得,玷污自己,使基甸及其全家陷入网罗。

28这样,米甸人被以色列人征服了,从此一蹶不振。基甸在世之日,以色列境内安享太平四十年。

基甸去世

29约阿施的儿子耶路·巴力返回家乡居住。 30他有许多妻子,生了七十个儿子。 31他的妾住在示剑,也给他生了一个儿子,他给孩子取名叫亚比米勒32约阿施的儿子基甸年高寿终,葬在亚比以谢族的俄弗拉,在他父亲约阿施的坟墓里。

33基甸刚去世,以色列人便又与众巴力苟合,奉巴力·比利土为他们的神明, 34忘记了他们的上帝耶和华曾经从四围的仇敌手中拯救他们, 35也没有因耶路·巴力——基甸的功绩而厚待他的家人。