1 And the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered them into the hands of Midian for seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel, and because of the Midianites the sons of Israel made dens in the mountains and caves and strongholds. 3 For when those of Israel had sown, the Midianites would come up and the Amalekites and the sons of the east. They would come up against them 4 and encamp against them and destroy the fruits of the earth as far as Gaza, and they would leave nothing to eat in Israel neither sheep nor ox nor ass. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents in a great multitude like locusts, for there was no number in them nor in their camels, and they would enter into the land destroying it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the sons of Israel cried unto the LORD.
7 And when the sons of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, 8 the LORD sent a prophet unto the sons of Israel who said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt and brought you forth out of the house of slavery; 9 I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all that oppressed you and drove them out from before you and gave you their land; 10 and I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell, but ye have not heard my voice.