^{1 Ref} And the children of Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord; and the Lord gave them up into the hand of Midian for seven years.

^{2 Ref} And Midian was stronger than Israel; and because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made holes for themselves in the mountains, and hollows in the rocks, and strong places.

^{3 Ref} And whenever Israel's grain was planted, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east came up against them;

^{4 Ref} And put their army in position against them; and they took all the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, till there was no food in Israel, or any sheep or oxen or asses.

^{5 Ref} For they came up regularly with their oxen and their tents; they came like the locusts in number; they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land for its destruction.

^{6 Ref} And Israel was in great need because of Midian; and the cry of the children of Israel went up to the Lord.

⁷ And when the cry of the children of Israel, because of Midian, came before the Lord,

^{8 Ref} The Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, The Lord the God of Israel, has said, I took you up from Egypt, out of the prison-house;