16. And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Sukkoth a lesson.
17. And he broke down the tower of Penu’ĕl and slew the men of the city.
18. And he said to Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna, “How were the men whom you killed at Taḇor?” So they answered, “They were like you, each one looked like the son of a sovereign.”
19. And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As יהוה lives, if you had let them live, I would not slay you.”
20. And he said to Yether his first-born, “Rise, slay them!” But the youth would not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
21. Then Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and fall on us. For as a man is, so is his might.” So Giḏ‛on arose and slew Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels’ necks.
22. So the men of Yisra’ĕl said to Giḏ‛on, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have saved us from the hand of Miḏyan.”
23. But Giḏ‛on said to them, “I do not rule over you, nor does my son rule over you. יהוה does rule over you.”
24. And Giḏ‛on said to them, “I have a request to make of you, that each of you give me the ring from his spoil.” For they had rings of gold, because they were Yishma‛ĕlites.
25. And they said, “We shall certainly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the ring from his spoil.