Judges 8:16-20
Judges 8:16
And
he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and
with them he taught the men of Succoth.
The
area where Succoth was located had many thorn bushes and briers.
So Gideon was now keeping his promise to them.
He took the elders of the city, probably all 77 of them, and he went out
of the city and as the Scriptures teach, “he taught the men.”
Now he did not take all of the men of Succoth out but just the elders.
It appears by the description of the briers and thorns that they made
scourges out of them and whipped the elders.
It is not known if they were just beat or if some died from the beatings
but nevertheless Gideon kept his word and they learned their lesson.
Judges 8:17
And
he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
Gideon now turns his eyes toward Penuel, the other city that refused to help
him. They had a tower which they
were proud of and it most likely was high enough to help keep them on guard for
approaching enemies. Gideon had
promised them that when he returned in peace he would take down that tower which
he did in keeping to his promise.
He also slew the men of the city which may have been trying to keep Gideon from
breaking down that tower. It is not
known how many he slew but it may have been a good number who took up arms
against him.
Judges 8:18
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.
Gideon then turns to the two Midianite princes and asks them a question,
probably to incriminate themselves.
Now what Gideon is asking them about the killings in Tabor are not mentioned
before this time so it is introduced as a new historical event.
Gideon is setting them up to admit their crime.
Instead of the two princes answering carefully, they answer in an
arrogant manner stating that as Gideon was alive now so were they and they had
looked like princes themselves, probably well-fed and dressed accordingly.
Judges 8:19
And
he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth,
if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
Gideon then reveals to them the reason for his question.
This battle against the Midianites also had a personal aspect to it.
These princes had attacked and killed some of Gideon’s brothers and he
told them that he would not slay them if he left them alive but they did not do
that, instead they killed them which now would lead to their own execution.
Judges 8:20
And
he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his
sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.