<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> raised up leaders<n id="1" /> who delivered them from these robbers.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Gideon said to God, &#8220;If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel,<n id="1" /> as you promised, then give me a sign as proof.<n id="2" />

the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian<n id="1" /> when they oppressed you?<n id="2" /> You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power.<n id="3" />

But since you abandoned me and worshiped<n id="1" /> other gods, I will not deliver you again.

Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!&#8221;<n id="1" />

When the Israelites cried out for help to the <sc>Lordsc>, he<n id="1" /> raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued<n id="2" /> them. His name was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb&#8217;s younger brother.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">After Ehud<n id="1" /> came<n id="2" /> Shamgar son of Anath; he killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and, like Ehud,<n id="3" /> delivered Israel.p>

Then the <sc>Lordsc> himself<n id="1" /> turned to him and said, &#8220;You have the strength.<n id="2" /> Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites!<n id="3" /> Have I not sent you?&#8221;

Gideon<n id="1" /> said to him, &#8220;But Lord,<n id="2" /> how<n id="3" /> can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.&#8221;<n id="4" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">The men of Israel said to Gideon, &#8220;Rule over us &#8211; you, your son, and your grandson. For you have delivered us from Midian&#8217;s power.&#8221;<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">After Abimelech&#8217;s death,<n id="1" /> Tola son of Puah, grandson<n id="2" /> of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar,<n id="3" /> rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country.

<p class="bodytext">Jephthah said to them, &#8220;My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites.<n id="1" /> I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power.<n id="2" />

When the <sc>Lordsc> raised up leaders for them, the <sc>Lordsc> was with each leader and delivered the people<n id="1" /> from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The <sc>Lordsc> felt sorry for them<n id="2" /> when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">When the Israelites cried out for help to the <sc>Lordsc>, he<n id="1" /> raised up a deliverer for them. His name was Ehud son of Gera the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.<n id="2" /> The Israelites sent him to King Eglon of Moab with their tribute payment.<n id="3" />

But Joash said to all those who confronted him,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Must you fight Baal&#8217;s battles?<n id="2" /> Must you rescue him? Whoever takes up his cause<n id="3" /> will die by morning!<n id="4" /> If he really is a god, let him fight his own battles!<n id="5" /> After all, it was his altar that was pulled down.&#8221;<n id="6" />

Look, I am putting a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground around it<n id="1" /> is dry, then I will be sure<n id="2" /> that you will use me to deliver Israel,<n id="3" /> as you promised.&#8221;

The <sc>Lordsc> said to Gideon, &#8220;You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you.<n id="1" /> Israel might brag,<n id="2" /> &#8216;Our own strength has delivered us.&#8217;<n id="3" />

The <sc>Lordsc> said to Gideon, &#8220;With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver the whole army<n id="1" /> and I will hand Midian over to you.<n id="2" /> The rest of the men should go home.&#8221;<n id="3" />

When I saw that you were not going to help,<n id="1" /> I risked my life<n id="2" /> and advanced against<n id="3" /> the Ammonites, and the <sc>Lordsc> handed them over to me. Why have you come up<n id="4" /> to fight with me today?&#8221;

Look, you will conceive and have a son.<n id="1" /> You must never cut his hair,<n id="2" /> for the child will be dedicated to God<n id="3" /> from birth. He will begin to deliver Israel from the power<n id="4" /> of the Philistines.&#8221;p>