Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan(A) and crossed it. He said to the men of Sukkoth,(B) “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out,(C) and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna,(D) the kings of Midian.”

But the officials of Sukkoth(E) said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread(F) to your troops?”(G)

Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna(H) into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”

From there he went up to Peniel[a](I) and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Sukkoth had. So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 8:8 Hebrew Penuel, a variant of Peniel; also in verses 9 and 17

Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing. He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

The princes of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

Gideon said, “Therefore when Yahweh has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”

He went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. He spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

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