5. And he said to the men of Sukkoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna, sovereigns of Miḏyan.”
6. But the leaders of Sukkoth said, “Are the hands of Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”
7. And Giḏ‛on said, “Because of this, when יהוה has given Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna into my hand, I shall tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!”
8. And he went up from there to Penu’ĕl and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penu’ĕl answered him as the men of Sukkoth had answered him.
9. So he spoke also to the men of Penu’ĕl, saying, “When I come back in peace I shall break down this tower!”
10. And Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna were at Qarqor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East. Now those who had already fallen were one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword.
11. And Giḏ‛on went up by the way of those who dwell in tents on the east of Noḇaḥ and Yog̅behah. And he smote the camp while the camp was at ease.
12. And Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna fled, and he pursued them, and captured the two sovereigns of Miḏyan, Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna, and shuddered the entire army.
13. And Giḏ‛on son of Yo’ash returned from battle, from the Ascent of Ḥeres,
14. and captured a youth of the men of Sukkoth and questioned him. So the youth wrote down for him the leaders of Sukkoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.
15. And he came to the men of Sukkoth and said, “See: Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zeḇaḥ and Tsalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’ ”
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.”