consternation, beheld the lights gleaming around them in all directions, while each blazing torch showed a trumpeter, still pouring forth the notes of encouragement to the hosts, as they supposed, that followed in his rear. An army of immense magnitude, they imagined, must be ready for the assault, and were about commencing it. Panicstruck, they were thrown into such confusion that they began to slay each other throughout the whole encampment, every man's sword being against his fellow, and all supposing that the Israelites were in the midst of them. Those that could escape did so; and it was not long before they were bending their flight from the plain of Jezreel towards the Jordan.

The news of what had happened soon reached the neighboring regions. Now that victory appeared to be on the side of Gideon and his band, those who were before fearful rallied to the conflict. The tribes of Naphtali, Asher and Manasseh poured forth their armed men, who assembling speedily together, pursued the enemy. In the meanwhile Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim, calling upon the inhabitants to raise forces sufficient to take possession of the fording-places of such streams as the Midianites would endeavor to cross, especially those of the Jordan, and thus to intercept them in their flight.

The command was obeyed. Two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, were taken and slain, and their heads afterwards brought to Gideon; while the Israelites continued the pursuit across the Jordan, and quite to the borders of Midian.

About this time the men of Ephraim complained bitterly to Gideon, because he had not summoned their forces to the war at its very commencement. They felt their pride wounded, or would have it believed that they did, by this neglect. And yet they must have known that Gideon acted under the divine direction, and that they could have easily offered their services, at any time, to aid in delivering their nation from its oppressors. The reply which they received. showed both the humility and wisdom of Gideon. "What have I done now," said he, "in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer ?" Does not your comparatively small action excel what might seem to be the greater one of myself and the three hundred men whom I led to battle ? "God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you ?"

A soft answer turneth away wrath. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

The reply of Gideon had its intended effect; and the Ephraimites appear to have been well satisfied with what they had achieved, and with the praise which was thus bestowed upon it.

While chasing the Midianites, Gideon and his band having crossed the Jordan, came to Suc. coth. They were exhausted with fatigue and hunger, and halted a moment to ask for some refreshment. "Give, I pray you," said he,

loaves of bread unto the people that follow me for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian."

The head men of Succoth refused the request, and tauntingly inquired if these princes were already the prisoners of Gideon; as if it would be time enough for him to make the demand when he had obtained such a triumph. This denial of hospitality was an act of the basest kind. Even an enemy when famishing should be fed; how much more their own countrymen, and those, too, who had so bravely hazarded their lives, and were still doing it, for the protection and freedom of these very men of Succoth. Besides, it was rebellion against God, and treason against their country. They must have known that Gi'eon, in conducting the enterprise in which he was engaged, was acting in accordance with the express commands of the Almighty; and it was, in fact, rendering essential aid to the enemy thus

to leave their pursuers to be so overcome with hunger and fatigue as to be unable, probably, to overtake and subdue them. Indeed, we have reason to believe that this would certainly have been the case, if Gideon and his band, under such circumstances, had not been sustained by a peculiar, divine influence. He left Succoth with this tremendous denunciation: "When the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briars." Whether punishment was literally to be inflicted upon them in this way, or whether its great severity only was intended by the language used, it is difficult to decide. We have reason to believe that, in either case, it was to consist in putting them to death.

Gideon soon came to Penuel, and making there a request similar to that which he made at Succoth, was answered in the same manner. He left its inhabitants, also, with a fearful rebuke ;— "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower."

While these things were taking place, Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, a town near the eastern borders of Gad, with an army of fifteen thousand men, being all that had escaped out of the immense hosts of the Midianites and their allies, one hundred and twenty thousand having been slain. Here they felt secure from attack,

and were most unexpectedly, therefore, discomfited by Gideon and his men, who reached the place by a route east of Nobah and Jogbehah. All were put to death except the princes Zebah and Zalmunna. They were retained as prisoners, to meet the peculiar fate which was in reserve for them.

On his return, as he approached Succoth, Gideon seized upon a young man of that place, and demanded of him who the persons were that were the influential ones in denying him the re freshment for which he asked. The young man gave him the names of seventy-seven. It was not long before they were brought before him, in the presence of the other inhabitants. After calling upon them all to behold his prisoners, Zebah and Zalmunna, on whose account they had upbraided him in such an insulting manner, he ordered the punishment of death which he had threatened, to be inflicted upon the seventy-seven, as a just re. tribution for their conduct, and an example to the rest. The inhabitants of Penuel, also, soon met their merited fate; their tower, of which they probably boasted as their defence in their refusal to comply with Gideon's request, being demolished, and themselves put to death.

Do judgments like these overtake the wicked in this world, under the government of that Being who is holy and just in all his ways, and will