Judges 6:1-14

1And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yhwh: And Yhwh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.1 3And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; 4And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.2 5For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto Yhwh.

7And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto Yhwh because of the Midianites, 8That Yhwh sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith Yhwh God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;3 9And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10And I said unto you, I am Yhwh your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

11And there came an angel of Yhwh, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi–ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.45 12And the angel of Yhwh appeared unto him, and said unto him, Yhwh is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if Yhwh be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Yhwh bring us up from Egypt? but now Yhwh hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14And Yhwh looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?