Judges 8:22-24

Contemporary English Version

The Israelites Ask Gideon To Be Their King

²² After the battle with the Midianites, the Israelites said, “Gideon, you rescued us! Now we want you to be our king. Then after your death, your son and then your grandson will rule.”

²³ “No,” Gideon replied, “I won't be your king, and my son won't be king either. Only the Lord is your ruler. ²⁴ But I will ask you to do one thing: Give me all the earrings you took from the enemy.”

The enemy soldiers had been Ishmaelites,^[a] and they wore gold earrings.