Gideon Pursues Zebah and Zalmunna

8 The men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?”a And they quarreled with him severely. 2 And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God has given into your hand the commanders of Midian, Oreb, and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” And their ⌊anger⌋b against him subsided when ⌊he said that⌋.c

4 Then Gideon came to the Jordan, crossing it with the three hundred men who were with him, weary and pursuing. 5 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are ⌊following me⌋,d for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6 The officials of Succoth said, “Is the hande of Zebah and Zalmunna in your hand now, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 Gideon said, “Well then, when Yahweh gives Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will trample your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness.” 8 He went from there to Penuel, and he spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth answered. 9 And he said also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I return ⌊safely⌋,f I will tear down this tower.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men remained from the entire armyg of the people of the east; those that fell in battle were one hundred and twenty thousand ⌊swordsmen⌋.h 11 And Gideon went up the route of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked the armyi when it was off its guard.j 12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he routedk the entire army.l

13 Then Gideon son of Jehoash returned from the battle ⌊by way of⌋m the ascent of Heres.n 14 He captured a young man ⌊from Succoth⌋o and questioned him. The young man listedp for him the commanders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 He came to the men of Succoth, and he said, “Here is Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Is the palmq of Zebah and Zalmunna in your hand now, that we should give food to your weary men?’ ” 16 He took the elders of the city and the thorn bushes and briers of the wilderness, and ⌊he trampled⌋r the men of Succoth with them. 17 He broke down the tower of Penuel, and he killed the men of the city.

18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What type were the men whom you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “⌊They were like you⌋;s each one of them had the appearance of the sons of the king.” 19 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had kept them alive I would not kill you.” 20 And he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up, kill them.” But the boy did not draw his sword, for he was afraid because he was still a boy. 21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up yourself, and strike us, for as is the man, so is his power.”t So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.