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18 Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “The men you killed at Tabor—what were they like?”

“Like you,” they replied. “They all had the look of a king’s son.”

19 “They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother!” Gideon exclaimed. “As surely as the Lord lives, I wouldn’t kill you if you hadn’t killed them.”

20 Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, “Kill them!” But Jether did not draw his sword, for he was only a boy and was afraid.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, “Be a man! Kill us yourself!” So Gideon killed them both and took the royal ornaments from the necks of their camels.

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18 He said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Describe for me[a] the men you killed at Tabor.” They said, “They were like you. Each one looked like a king’s son.”[b] 19 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. I swear,[c] as surely as the Lord is alive, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 He ordered Jether his firstborn son, “Come on![d] Kill them!” But Jether was too afraid to draw his sword,[e] because he was still young. 21 Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon,[f] “Come on,[g] you strike us, for a man is judged by his strength.”[h] So Gideon killed[i] Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent-shaped ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 8:18 tn Heb “Where are?”
  2. Judges 8:18 tn Heb “each one like the appearance of sons of the king.”
  3. Judges 8:19 tn The words “I swear” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
  4. Judges 8:20 tn Or “Arise!”
  5. Judges 8:20 tn Heb “did not draw his sword for he was afraid.”
  6. Judges 8:21 tn The words “to Gideon” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
  7. Judges 8:21 tn Or “Arise.”
  8. Judges 8:21 tn Heb “for as the man is his strength.”
  9. Judges 8:21 tn Heb “arose and killed.”