11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained to Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon thrashed wheat by the wine-press, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
13 And Gideon said to him, O my Lord, if the LORD is with us, why then hath all this befallen us? and where are all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15 And he said to him, O my Lord, by what means shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
16 And the LORD said to him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
17 And he said to him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me.