1 The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites? ” And they argued with him violently.
2 So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
3 God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you? ” When he said this, their anger against him subsided.
4 Gideon and the 300 men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit.
5 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give some loaves of bread to the people who are following me, because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6 But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army? ”
7 Gideon replied, “Very well, when the Lord has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will trample your flesh on thorns and briers from the wilderness! ”