Gideon Punishes the Gadites
At length Gideon and his three hundred caught up with the Midianites, again surprising them when they deemed themselves safe beyond pursuit. The enemy were utterly scattered; their king was captured, and slain by Gideon’s own hand. Then the victor returned in triumph. But his work was not yet finished. He had vowed vengeance against the two chief cities of the Gadites, Succoth and Penuel, for refusing him assistance. The elders of Succoth he seized and whipped with brambles. Penuel he attacked with force, slew the men who opposed him, and destroyed the great watch tower, the special strength and pride of the city.
After that no man in Israel ventured to oppose Gideon. He “judged” the land for forty years. The people would have made him and his descendants kings over them, but Gideon had not forgotten to Whom his success was due, and he answered his flatterers sternly “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.”
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