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G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:1-35

Following the deliverance from the oppression of Midian, Gideon had to deal with internal troubles. The people of Ephraim objected that he had not called them to his help. The men of Succoth and Penuel had refused help in an hour of crisis. Gideon's method with Ephraim was conciliatory and that with the men of Succoth and Penuel was severe. The last things we read about Gideon are full of interest: one is characterized by great nobility, the other is a revelation of weakness which issued in... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:15

‘ And he came to the men of Succoth, and said, “Behold, Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?” ’ Their words had clearly hit Gideon hard. He could not forgive what they had done to his valiant men, instruments of Yahweh in the deliverance of Israel. Now they could see that Zebah and Zalmunna really were in his hand. The elders would be in no doubt of their fate. They... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:16

‘ And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness, and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth .’ The words are expressive. They were taught what it meant to breach the covenant, with thorns and briers, probably by a severe beating. It may be that he spared their lives for he exacted the punishment that he had first promised and no more (verse 7). read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:17

‘ And he broke down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.’ Penuel was a fortified city and thus had less excuse for their cowardice and breach of covenant, so he destroyed their fortifications and slew their chief men, ‘the men of the city’. This latter interpretation is probable because he was clearly carefully meting out blame to those who were blameworthy. However it may be that the city defended itself against him and he thus had to deal with all in fierce battle. read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:4-21

Judges 8:4-Ecclesiastes : . The Pursuit on the East of Jordan.— This section is not continuous with the preceding one. The men of Israel, who were gathered together after the battle ( Judges 7:23), and the Ephraimites, who were so eager to prove what they could do, are heard of no more. Gideon is again alone with his 300 ( Judges 8:4); the men of Succoth and Penuel, ignorant of any battle or rout, think his campaign against the Midianites a hopeless affair; and when he at length reaches the... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Judges 8:16

By that severe punishment (of which Judges 8:7) he made the men, i.e. the elders of Succoth, to know their sin and folly, though it was too late for their good, but not for the instruction and warning of others. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Judges 8:1-17

THE COMPLETION OF THE LORD’S DELIVERANCE OF HIS PEOPLE. Judges 8:1-17CRITICAL NOTES.—Judges 8:1. And the men of Ephraim said, etc.] i.e.—after Gideon had reached the trans-Jordanic side of the river, and when the heads of Oreb and Zeeb were brought to him. It may either have been while he was still pursuing the flying foe, or after he had returned from that pursuit; more probably the former. Though the Ephraimites and the Manassites were the descendants of two brothers, and might have been... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Judges 8:1-35

Judges 6-8 In the first words of Gideon we find the key to his character. (1) He was a man who felt deeply the degradation of his people. He could not enjoy his own harvest while the Midianites were robbing all around; he had the patriot's wide sympathy. (2) He was a man also of the strongest common sense, accustomed to look through words to things, and to look the facts of life fair in the face. (3) He was a man of abundant personal valour, but yet unwilling to move a step until he was sure... read more

Charles Simeon

Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae - Judges 8:15-17

DISCOURSE: 270GIDEON CHASTISES THE MEN OF SUCCOTH AND PENUELJudges 8:15-17. And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.CONSISTENCY is... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Judges 8:1-35

Shall we turn in our Bibles to the book of Judges, chapter eight?The Ephraimites were troublemakers. And in chapter eight we find them giving Gideon a bad time. But we see with what splendid diplomacy Gideon deals with these Ephraimites. They came to Gideon and they began to chide him sharply because he had not called them to go with him against the Midianites. Now it is interesting to note that they came to him after Gideon had the victory and it was assured that Gideon had the enemy on the... read more

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