Judges 6:4
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
This verse is one instance of the repeated story of backsliding and chastisement followed by confession and deliverance. The oppression came because Israel did evil by mingling with the heathen, intermarrying with them and serving idols, which separated them from God and withdrew His protecting hand and strength so they could no longer prevail but were brought into subjection to the very nations they might through God have subdued. The oppressors were the Midianites from the eastern border and the deserts beyond, joined by the Amalekites from the south, taking revenge after having been nearly destroyed in the days of Moses and having since grown numerous and powerful. Though the tribes east of the Jordan were the first sufferers, the whole land suffered under the invasion.
The wild desert people came with their flocks and herds as soon as the harvests began to ripen, numerous as locusts, encamped against Israel and remained until the last fruits were gathered, destroying the increase of the earth all the way to Gaza and leaving no sustenance, sheep, ox or ass, while robbing and maltreating the inhabitants before returning to the deserts. As a result, Israelites living in the open country had to abandon their homes for walled towns, fortresses, and caves and rocky fastnesses in the mountains. The oppression lasted seven years, until the people heeded the reproof of the Lord and confessed their sins. God did not utterly forsake Israel but from time to time raised up faithful and valiant men to put down idolatry and deliver them, though when each deliverer died the people gradually returned to their idols.