1 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord turned them over to Midian for seven years.
2 The Midianites overwhelmed Israel. Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds.
3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them.
4 They invaded the land and devoured its crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat, and they took away the sheep, oxen, and donkeys.