1. The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian for seven years.
2. The hands of Midian dominated Israel, and because of Midian the children of Israel made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
3. Whenever Israel would plant crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would come up against them.
4. Then they would make camp by them and ruin crops of the land all the way to Gaza. They did not leave any provisions behind in Israel—neither sheep, nor cattle, nor donkeys.
5. For they came with their livestock and tents like a swarm of locusts. They and their camels were too numerous to count, and they came into the land to destroy it.
6. Israel was made weak before Midian and cried out to the Lord.
7. When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of Midian,
8. the Lord sent them a prophet who said, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt and out of that place of slavery.