Gideon Pursues the Kings of Midian

Gideon and the three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit. He said to the men of Succoth,(A) “Please give some loaves of bread to the troops under my command,[a] because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army?”

Gideon replied, “Very well, when the Lord has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tear[b] your flesh with thorns and briers from the wilderness!” He went from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuel(B) answered just as the men of Succoth had answered. He also told the men of Penuel, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower!”

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Footnotes

  1. 8:5 Lit troops at my feet
  2. 8:7 Lit thresh

Then Gideon and the three hundred men who were with him came (A)to the Jordan and crossed over, exhausted yet still pursuing. And he said to the men of (B)Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are [a]following me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” But the leaders of Succoth said, “[b](C)Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” So Gideon said, “For this answer, (D)when the Lord has handed over to me Zebah and Zalmunna, I will [c]thrash your [d]bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” Then he went up from there to [e](E)Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered. So he said also to the men of [f]Penuel, “When I return safely, (F)I will tear down this tower.”

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 8:5 Lit at my feet
  2. Judges 8:6 Lit Is the palm of...; i.e., are you so sure of victory that
  3. Judges 8:7 Or trample
  4. Judges 8:7 Lit flesh
  5. Judges 8:8 In Gen 32:30, Peniel
  6. Judges 8:9 Lit Penuel, saying,

Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan(A) and crossed it. He said to the men of Sukkoth,(B) “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out,(C) and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna,(D) the kings of Midian.”

But the officials of Sukkoth(E) said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread(F) to your troops?”(G)

Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna(H) into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”

From there he went up to Peniel[a](I) and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Sukkoth had. So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 8:8 Hebrew Penuel, a variant of Peniel; also in verses 9 and 17