31 Heb “elders.”
32 The translation follows the reading of several ancient versions (, the , and ) in assuming the form וַיָּדָשׁ (vayyadash) from the verb דּוֹשׁ (dosh, “thresh”) as in v. 7. The reads instead the form וַיֹּדַע (vayyoda’, “make known”), a Hiphil form of יָדַע (yadah). In this case one could translate, “he used them [i.e., the thorns and briers] to teach the men of Succoth a lesson.”

In other versions

And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson.

He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Sukkoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers.

So he took the elders of the city, and he took some thorns and briers from the wilderness, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them.

Then Gideon took the elders of the town and taught them a lesson, punishing them with thorns and briers from the wilderness.

He took the elders of the city and the thorn bushes and briers of the wilderness, and he trampled the men of Succoth with them.

And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

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