2 The hand of the Midianites prevailed over Israel; because of the presence of the Midianites, the Israelites made for themselves hiding places that were in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
3 And whenever Israel sowed seed, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east would come up against them.
4 They would camp against them and destroy the produce of the land as far as Gaza; they left no produce in Israel, or sheep, ox, or donkey.
5 For they, their livestock, and their tents would come up like a great number of locusts; they and their camels could not be counted; they came into the land and devoured it.
6 Israel was very poor because of the presence of the Midianites, and the Israelites cried out to Yahweh.
7 When the Israelites cried out to Yahweh on account of the Midianites,
8 Yahweh sent a prophet to the Israelites, and he said to them, “Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt; I brought you from the house of slavery.