²⁵ Then they sat down to eat ^[a]a meal. But as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of ^(A)Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying ^(B)labdanum resin, ^(C)balsam, and ^[b]myrrh, ^[c]on their way to bring them down to Egypt.

Israel Oppressed by Midian

6 Then the sons of Israel ^(A)did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord handed them over to ^(B)Midian for seven years. ² The ^[a]power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves ^(C)the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. ³ For whenever Israel had sown, the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the ^[b]people of the east and ^[c]march against them.

²² Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, your son’s son as well, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian!”

²⁴ Yet Gideon said to them, “I would ^[a]request of you, that each of you give me ^[b]an earring from his plunder.” (For they had gold earrings, because they were ^(A)Ishmaelites.)