Victory gives way to retaliation, wealth, and a snare

“And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be…” Naming Give and Midian keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh…” Naming Gideon and Zalmunna keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of…” Naming Penuel and Succoth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.” Naming Penuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for…” Naming Gideon and Jogbehah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,” Naming Gideon and Joash keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth…” Naming Succoth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of…” Naming Succoth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.” Naming Penuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I…” The line’s distinctive content terms include alive, brethren, liveth. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he…” Naming Jether keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose…” Naming Zalmunna and Zebah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou…” Naming Gideon and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey…” Naming Gideon and Ishmaelites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings…” The line’s distinctive content terms include earrings, garment, prey. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after…” Naming Gideon and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.” Naming Jerubbaal and Joash keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.” Naming Abimelech and Shechem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of…” Naming Joash and Abi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had…” Naming Gideon and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.