when thou wentest to fight against
Madian? And they chid him sharply, and almost offered violence.

8:2. And he answered them: What could I have done like to that which you
have done? Is not one bunch of grapes of Ephraim better than the
vintages of Abiezer?

What could I, etc... A meek and humble answer appeased them; who
otherwise might have come to extremities. So great is the power of
humility both with God and man.

8:3. The Lord hath delivered into your hands the princes of Madian, Oreb
and Zeb: what could I have done like to what you have done? And when he
had said this, their spirit was appeased, with which they swelled
against him.

8:4. And when Gedeon was come to the Jordan, he passed over it with the
three hundred men that were with him: who were so weary that they could
not pursue after them that fled.

8:5. And he said to the men of Soccoth: Give, I beseech you, bread to
the people that is with me, for they are faint: that we may pursue
Zebee, and Salmana, the kings of Madian.

8:6. The princes of Soccoth answered: Peradventure the palms of the
hands of Zebee and Salmana are in thy hand, and therefore thou demandest
that we should give bread to thy army.

8:7. And he said to them: When the Lord therefore shall have delivered
Zebee and Salmana into my hands, I will thresh your flesh with the
thorns and briers of the desert.

8:8. And going up from thence, he came to Phanuel: and he spoke the like
things to the men of that place. And they also answered him, as the men
of Soccoth had answered.

8:9. He said, therefore, to them also: When I shall return a conqueror
in peace, I will destroy this tower.

8:10. But Zebee and Salmana were resting with all their army. For
fifteen thousand men were left of all the troops of the eastern people,
and one hundred and twenty thousand warriors that drew the sword were
slain.

8:11. And Gedeon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents, on the
east of Nobe and Jegbaa, and smote the camp of the enemies, who were
secure, and suspected no hurt.

8:12. And Zebee and Salmana fled, and Gedeon pursued and took them, all
their host being put in confusion.

8:13. And returning from the battle before the sun rising,

8:14. He took a boy of the men of Soccoth: and he asked him the names of
the princes and ancients of Soccoth, and he described unto him seventy-
seven men.

8:15. And he came to Soccoth, and said to them: Behold Zebee, and
Salmana, concerning