Judges 8:11-15

Judges 8:11

And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.

 

Nobah was in the area of Manasseh and Jogbehah was about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Penuel.   Gideon had surprised the Midianites since they thought that they were safe.  Leaving the place undefended was a major blunder which caused the deaths of those who were keeping the flocks.  Gideon’s army had surprised them especially since they were lacking food and rest. 

 

Judges 8:12

And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

 

Zebah and Zalmunna heard Gideon’s army approaching and knew that if they were caught they would be executed so what they did was to flee the scene as fast as they could and because they had left the army their leaving had caused a panic among the army because some left going in one direction and some in another and the result was the army of Gideon had now captured the two kings of the Midianites.   Now that Gideon had captured the two kings, his mission was now completed.

 

Judges 8:13

And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

 

Gideon then returned to Penuel and Succoth.  They had originally treated Gideon and his army with much animosity in their pursuit of the princes of Midian.  They had refused to help feed them since Gideon’s men were hungry and exhausted from their battle. Since Gideon returned before sun up, it may be that he went up to Karkor in the night.

 

Judges 8:14

And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.

 

Here Gideon had captured a young man who was a native of the town of Succoth.  Gideon wanted to know information about the leaders of the town so this young man had written all the information down for Gideon.  He detailed the names of the elders and princes which came to a total of 77.  Gideon was about to make good on his promise that he was going to return and destroy them with the same attitude they had toward him and his army.

 

Judges 8:15

And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?

 

Gideon now comes to the town of Succoth with Zebah and Zalmunna and shows them to the men of Succoth.  They had made a very erroneous judgment about Gideon and his task to defeat the Midianites.  They had insulted Gideon and his army when they were in pursuit of the two princes and now they see that they were wrong because Gideon had indeed captured them.  The men of Succoth now had to admit they were wrong but their previous attitudes had caused Gideon to come back and deal with them.

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