Judges 8:4-9

Expanded Bible

Gideon Captures Two Kings

⁴ When Gideon and his three hundred men came to the Jordan River, they were ·tired [exhausted], but they chased the enemy across to the other side. ⁵ Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my soldiers some loaves of bread because they are ·very tired [exhausted]. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

⁶ But the ·leaders [princes; officials] of Succoth said, “Why should we give your soldiers bread? ·You haven’t caught Zebah and Zalmunna yet [^LAre the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your hand?].”

⁷ Then Gideon said, “·The Lord will surrender [^LWhen the Lord surrenders] Zebah and Zalmunna to me. After that, I will ·whip [beat; tear; ^Lthresh] your skin with thorns and briers from the ·desert [wilderness].”

⁸ Gideon left Succoth and went up to the city of Peniel and ·asked them for food [^Lspoke this to them]. But the people of Peniel gave him the same answer as the people of Succoth. ⁹ So Gideon said to the men of Peniel, “·After I win the victory [^LWhen I return in peace], I will return and pull down this tower.”