Judges 6:1-6

1The people of Israel did what the Lord considered evil. So the Lord handed them over to Midian for seven years.

2Midian’s power was too strong for Israel. The Israelites made hiding places in the mountains, caves, and mountain strongholds ⌞to protect themselves⌟ from Midian.

3Whenever Israel planted crops, Midian, Amalek, and Kedem came and damaged the crops.

4The enemy used to camp on the land and destroy the crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to live on—not one sheep, cow, or donkey.

5Like swarms of locusts, they came with their livestock and their tents. They and their camels could not be counted. They came into the land only to ruin it.

6So the Israelites became very poor because of Midian and cried out to the Lord for help.