1 The people of Israel did what the Lord considered evil. So the Lord handed them over to Midian for seven years.
2 Midian’s power was too strong for Israel. The Israelites made hiding places in the mountains, caves, and mountain strongholds ⌊to protect themselves⌋ from Midian.
3 Whenever Israel planted crops, Midian, Amalek, and Kedem came and damaged the crops.
4 The enemy used to camp on the land and destroy the crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to live on—not one sheep, cow, or donkey.
5 Like swarms of locusts, they came with their livestock and their tents. They and their camels could not be counted. They came into the land only to ruin it.
6 So the Israelites became very poor because of Midian and cried out to the Lord for help.