²⁴ Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan^(A) ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. ²⁵ They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb^(B). They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb,^(C) and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites^(D) and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.^(E)

²⁴ They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told^(A) how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.

¹⁰ We have heard how the Lord dried up^(A) the water of the Red Sea^[a] for you when you came out of Egypt,^(B) and what you did to Sihon and Og,^(C) the two kings of the Amorites^(D) east of the Jordan,^(E) whom you completely destroyed.^[b](F)

² “Take vengeance on the Midianites^(A) for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.^(B)”

³ So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lord’s vengeance^(C) on them. ⁴ Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” ⁵ So twelve thousand men armed for battle,^(D) a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. ⁶ Moses sent them into battle,^(E) a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas^(F) son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary^(G) and the trumpets^(H) for signaling.

⁷ They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses,^(I) and killed every man.^{(J) 8} Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba^(K)—the five kings of Midian.^(L) They also killed Balaam son of Beor^(M) with the sword.^{(N) 9} The Israelites captured the Midianite women^(O) and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder.^{(P) 10} They burned^(Q) all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps.^{(R) 11} They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals,^{(S) 12} and brought the captives, spoils^(T) and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly^(U) at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.^(V)

³ and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread^(A) because of the Israelites.

⁴ The Moabites^(B) said to the elders of Midian,^(C) “This horde is going to lick up everything^(D) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.^(E)”

So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,

The Death of Abraham^(A)

25 Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. ² She bore him Zimran,^(B) Jokshan, Medan, Midian,^(C) Ishbak and Shuah.^{(D) 3} Jokshan was the father of Sheba^(E) and Dedan;^(F) the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. ⁴ The sons of Midian were Ephah,^(G) Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.