Judges 8:9

9 And he said also to the men of Penuel, saying, "When I return {safely}, I will tear down this tower."

Judges 8:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 9 And he spoke also unto the men of Penuel
In a threatening way, as he had spoken to the men of Succoth: saying, when I come again in peace: having conquered all his enemies, and delivered Israel from their bondage, and restored peace and prosperity to them, of which he had no doubt:

I will break down this tower;
pointing to it and which stood in their city, and in which they placed their confidence; and when he threatened them, boasted of it as their security.

Judges 8:9 In-Context

7 Gideon said, "Well then, when Yahweh gives Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will trample your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness."

8 He went from there [to] Penuel, and he spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth answered.

9 And he said also to the men of Penuel, saying, "When I return {safely}, I will tear down this tower."

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna [were] in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men remained from the entire army of the people of [the] east; those that fell [in battle were] one hundred and twenty thousand {swordsmen}.

11 And Gideon went up the route of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked the army when it was off its guard.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "in peace"