and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.
After seven years of these locust-like devastating raids (cf. Deuteronomy 28:31; Deuteronomy 28:38; Joel 1:4), the Israelites were at their wits end and called out to Yahweh in their misery (Judges 6:6). In response to their cries God sent an unnamed prophet (Judges 6:8) to explain the reason for their discipline. They had again disobeyed the Lord (Judges 6:10). Yet now the prophet God sent did not deliver the people (cf. Judges 4:4-7), but chastened them. This is another subtle sign that things were getting worse in Israel. The Book of Judges portrays a God who cannot help but be generous in spite of His people’s waywardness.