The Skeptics Annotated Bible (233 page)

23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan.

25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb
they
slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and
brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon
on the other side Jordan.

(7.25) “They … brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon.” Two princes are killed and their heads are brought to Gideon.

8
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

(8.6-7) For criticizing him (for not capturing Zebah and Zalmunna) and refusing to feed his army, Gideon swears that he’ll tear the flesh off the elders of Succoth. (And he carries out his threat in verse 16.)

6 And
the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

(8.6)
“The princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?”

7 And
Gideon said
, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then
I will tear your flesh with the thorns
of the wilderness
and with briers.

(8.7)
“Gideon said … I will tear your flesh with the thorns … and with briers.”

(8.8-9) Next Gideon visited Penuel, and when he was received as he was received in Succoth, he says he’ll destroy the tower of Peneul when he “comes again in peace.”

8 And
he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

(8.8)
“He went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.”

9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying,
When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

(8.9)
“When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for
there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

(8.10)
“There fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.”
120,000 Midianite soldiers died when God forced them to kill each other. (See 7.22)

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.

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.

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

14 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.

(8.15-17) Gideon returned to Succoth with the captured kings (Zebah and Zalmunna) and did to the elders as he said he would do: he tortured them with thorns and briers. Then he returned to Penuel, broke down the tower, and killed all the men of the city.