Judges 8:10-21

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of 1the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men 2who drew the sword.
11 And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of 3Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt 4secure.
12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them 5and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.
13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres.
14 And he captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men.
15 And he came to the men of Succoth and said, "Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, 6'Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?'"
16 And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson.
17 7And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "Where are the men whom you killed at 8Tabor?" They answered, "As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king."
19 And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. 9As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you."
20 So he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise and kill them!" But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man.
21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength." And Gideon arose and 10killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took 11the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

Judges 8:10-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 8

In this chapter we are told how Gideon pacified the Ephraimites, who complained because they were not sent unto to fight the Midianites, Jud 8:1-3 how he pursued the Midianites, until he took their two kings, and on his return chastised the men of Succoth and Penuel, because they refused to relieve his men with food as they were pursuing, Jud 8:4-17 how he slew the two kings of Midian, Jud 8:18-21 and after this conquest refused to take the government of Israel when offered him, Jud 8:22,23 how he requested of the Israelites the earrings they had taken from the Midianites, with which he in weakness made an ephod, which proved a snare to his house, Jud 8:24-27 how that the people were in peace forty years during his life, and that he had a numerous issue, and died in a good old age, Jud 8:28-32 but that after his death the Israelites fell into idolatry, and were ungrateful to his family, Jud 8:33-35.

Cross References 11

  • 1. See Judges 6:3
  • 2. Judges 20:2, 15, 17, 25, 35, 46; 2 Samuel 24:9; 2 Kings 3:26; 1 Chronicles 21:5
  • 3. Numbers 32:35, 42
  • 4. Judges 18:27
  • 5. Psalms 83:11
  • 6. ver. 6
  • 7. [1 Kings 12:25]
  • 8. [Judges 4:6]
  • 9. See Ruth 3:13
  • 10. Psalms 83:11
  • 11. ver. 26; Isaiah 3:18
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.