Gideon left Succoth and went to the city of Peniel and asked them for food. But the people of Peniel gave him the same answer as the people of Succoth.
Then Jeroboam made Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim a very strong city, and he lived there. He also went to the city of Peniel and made it stronger.
‘May the town of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord. ‘Bitterly curse its people, because they did not come to help the Lord. They did not fight the strong enemy.’