Judges 8:14

14 He caught a young man of the men of Sukkot, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Sukkot, and the Zakenim of it, seventy-seven men.

Judges 8:14 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 8:14

And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of
him
Just before he came to the city, he spied a young man which belonged to it, and laid hold on him, and inquired of him about the chief magistrates of the city, who they were, what their names, and their places of abode:

and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders
thereof, even seventy seven men;
by which it appears that this was no inconsiderable city to have so many princes and elders in it; these the young man described to Gideon, what sort of men they were, what their names, and where they dwelt: or "he wrote unto him" ^F25; wrote down their names, and what part of the city they dwelt in; or Gideon took down in writing for himself their names and places of abode from the young man, that he might not forget: and in this Gideon showed great wisdom, and strict justice; being desirous to punish only the delinquents, and not the innocent with the wicked, the people with their rulers; for though he asked bread of the men of Succoth, the answer was returned in the ill natured manner it was by the princes.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (wyla btkyw) "et scripsit ad eum", Montanus, Piscator; "et scripsit sibi", Pagninus, Munster; so some in Drusius.

Judges 8:14 In-Context

12 Zevach and Tzalmunnah fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Midyan, Zevach and Tzalmunnah, and confused all the host.

13 Gid`on the son of Yo'ash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.

14 He caught a young man of the men of Sukkot, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Sukkot, and the Zakenim of it, seventy-seven men.

15 He came to the men of Sukkot, and said, See Zevach and Tzalmunnah, concerning whom you did taunt me, saying, Are the hands of Zevach and Tzalmunnah now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?

16 He took the Zakenim of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Sukkot.