² Because the ·Midianites were very powerful and were cruel to [^Lhand of Midian was so strong/oppressive against] Israel, the Israelites made ·hiding places [shelters; dens] in the mountains, in caves, and in ·safe places [strongholds]. ³ Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other ·peoples [^Lsons] from the east would come and attack them. ⁴ They ·camped in the land [^Lencamped against them] and destroyed the crops that the Israelites had planted as far away as Gaza. They left ·nothing [no sustenance/living thing] for Israel to eat, and no sheep, cattle, or donkeys.