The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
"When Israel had sown ... they came up against them"  (Judges 6:3). When the Israelites attempted to raise crops for the support of themselves and their flocks and herds, the Midianites and their allies, which included the Amalekites and the "children of the east," came up against them, bringing vast numbers of their own herds and cattle as well as countless camels, pasturing and feeding them on the defenseless crops of the Israelites, and robbing the Israelites of whatever stores of grain and other produce they might have attempted to hide.  The situation was absolutely pitiful.