Judges 8:4-6
New English Translation
Gideon Tracks Down the Midianite Kings
4 Now Gideon and his 300 men had crossed over the Jordan River, and even though they were exhausted, they were still chasing the Midianites.[a] 5 He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give[b] some loaves of bread to the men[c] who are following me,[d] because they are exhausted. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6 The officials of Sukkoth said, “You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give[e] bread to your army?”[f]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 8:4 tn Heb “And Gideon arrived at the Jordan, crossing over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted and chasing.” The English past perfect (“had crossed”) is used because this verse flashes back chronologically to an event that preceded the hostile encounter described in vv. 1-3. (Note that 7:25 assumes Gideon had already crossed the Jordan.)
- Judges 8:5 tn Or perhaps, “sell.”
- Judges 8:5 tn Heb “people.” The translation uses “men” because these were warriors and in ancient Israelite culture would have been exclusively males.
- Judges 8:5 tn Heb “who are at my feet.”
- Judges 8:6 tn Or perhaps, “sell.”
- Judges 8:6 tn Heb “Are the palms of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give to your army bread?” Perhaps the reference to the kings’ “palms” should be taken literally. The officials of Sukkoth may be alluding to the practice of mutilating prisoners or enemy corpses (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 155).sn The officials of Sukkoth are hesitant to give (or sell) food to Gideon’s forces because they are not sure of the outcome of the battle. Perhaps they had made an alliance with the Midianites which demanded their loyalty.
Judges 8:4-6
New International Version
4 Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan(A) and crossed it. 5 He said to the men of Sukkoth,(B) “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out,(C) and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna,(D) the kings of Midian.”
6 But the officials of Sukkoth(E) said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread(F) to your troops?”(G)
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