⁴ When Gideon came ^(A)to the Jordan, he and ^(B)the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. ⁵ Then he said to the men of ^(C)Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”

⁶ And the leaders of Succoth said, ^(D)“Are^[a] the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that ^(E)we should give bread to your army?”

⁷ So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, ^(F)then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!” ⁸ Then he went up from there ^(G)to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. ⁹ So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I ^(H)come back in peace, ^(I)I will tear down this tower!”