Refusing Gideon

In the book of Judges, chapter 8, there is the final defeat of the Midianites.

At first, those who were left behind on the initial raid were angry and upset with Gideon, questioning why they weren't involved.  He then turned the tables on them and said they did more than he by defeating the two Midianite chiefs Oreb and Zeeb.

They were no longer upset.

As they traveled in pursuit of the Midianites who fled, Gideon and his people came to a town.  He asked for some food.  They were denied sustenance. Gideon told them once he has defeated the final Midianite people, he will come back and beat them with thorns and briers.

He travled on to the next town, who told him the same thing.  Again, he said he will tear down his tower once he has defeated the Midianite people.

Then, Gideon did as he had advised: once the final Midianite people were defeated, the people who denied them were punished.

And until his death forty years later, there was peace in the land.