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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.”

18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. 19 And he said, They were my brethren, the sons of my mother: as Jehovah liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20 And he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.

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