Then \{the Lord\} yelled at me. He said, “Look, those horses that were going north finished their job \{in Babylon\}. They have calmed my spirit—I am not angry now!”
Because of all these things, the Master, the Lord All-Powerful, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will punish you, my enemies. You will not cause me any more trouble.
“‘You sinned against me\par and became stained with sin.\par I wanted to wash you and make you clean.\par But the stains would not come out.\par I won’t try washing you again\par until my hot anger is finished with you!\par
Only then will I stop being angry at your people. I will know that they have been punished for the bad things they did to me. And they will know that I am the Lord, and that I spoke to them because of my strong love {\cf2\super [45]} for them!”
And I am very angry at the nations\par that feel so safe.\par I was a little angry,\par and I used those nations\par to punish my people.\par But those nations caused too much damage.”\par
{In the same way, you have a better harvest now.} God allowed you to capture Oreb and Zeeb, the leaders of Midian! How can I compare my success with what you did?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, they were not as angry as they had been.