In Judges 6-8, the Israelites again did evil in the eyes of the Lord and were given over into the hands of the Midianites, but the Lord called Gideon to rescue them when they cried out to Him for help. Gideon was doubtful that he was qualified to save Israel, but God said to him, "I will be with you and you will strike down all the Midianites". The Lord directed Gideon to tear down the alters to Baal and to cut down the Asherah poles and to build a proper alter to the Lord. Gideon and 32,000 of his men were preparing to battle the Midianites, but the Lord told him to only bring 300 men against the Midianites. This way, they could only boast in the Lord when He delivered the Midianites into their hands. After defeating the Midianites, the Israelites asked Gideon to rule over them, but he told them that he would not and instead "The Lord will rule over you". During the rest of Gideon's lifetime, there was peace for forty years.