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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 he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?”

They answered, “They were like you. They all resembled the children of a king.”

19 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”

20 He said to Jether his firstborn, “Get up and kill them!” But the youth didn’t draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.

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