Keraia
Judges 8

Judges 8:14

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna · Judges 8:1–21
Read Judges 8

Translations

Modern
There he captured a young man of Succoth and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Succoth.
Traditional
And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
Literal
And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and questioned him, and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders—seventy-seven men.
Latin
…apprehendit puerum de viris Soccoth: interrogavitque eum nomina principum et seniorum Soccoth, et descripsit septuaginta septem viros.

Original

Hebrew
English
There he captured a young man of Succoth and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Succoth.

Notes

Judges 8:13–17

  • The return journey likely followed a straight path through the unknown Ascent of Heres, unlike the circular route needed for the ambush.

  • The fact that a typical young man from Succoth could write down the names shows that the new alphabetic writing system had become established in Israel.

  • Gideon's practice of retribution and execution was common in his time. However, his reputation as the Lord's servant was better supported by his skillful diplomacy (Judges 8:1–3) than by harsh punishment.

Judges 6:1–8:35

Gideon's time as a judge ends the first era of judges.

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Social Chaos in Judges

Events

Places

Succoth: City in Canaan, location of Solomon's bronze works

Glossary

Education Joash Judges, Book of Midian, Midianite Penuel (Place) Scribe Succoth

Topics

Gideon: Avenges Himself Upon the People of Succoth God: Preserver: Under Gideon Government: Municipal: Devolving Upon a Local Senate and Executive officers Israel: Under the Judges: Seven Years of Bondage to the Midianites; Delivered by Gideon Patriotism: Lacking in The Inhabitants of Succoth and Penuel Retaliation: Gideon on the Princes of Succoth Succoth: A City Which Was Located Probably East of the Jordan River: People of, Punished by Gideon The Ishmaelites: Overcome by Gideon Zalmunna: King of Midian Zebah: King of Midian