Judges 8:14-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 8:4-17

In these verses we have, I. Gideon, as a valiant general, pursuing the remaining Midianites, and bravely following his blow. A very great slaughter was made of the enemy at first: 120,000 men that drew the sword, Jdg. 7:10. Such a terrible execution did they make among themselves, and so easy a prey were they to Israel. But, it seems, the two kings of Midian, being better provided than the rest for an escape, with 15,000 men got over Jordan before the passes could be secured by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:14

And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him ,.... Just before he came to the city, he spied a young man which belonged to it, and laid hold on him, and inquired of him about the chief magistrates of the city, who they were, what their names, and their places of abode: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even seventy seven men ; by which it appears that this was no inconsiderable city to have so many princes and elders in it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:15

And he came unto the men of Succoth ,.... Entered the city, and bespoke the inhabitants of it in the following manner: and said, behold, Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me ; as not in his hands, and never would be, he being with his three hundred men an unequal match to them with 15,000; but he had taken them, and brought them with him, and perhaps spared them for this very reason, to let them see they were in his hands, and now calls upon them to behold them with their own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:16

And he took the elders of the city ,.... All of them, especially those of them who had been most guilty, and had them to a proper place, where they might be made public examples of: and thorns of the wilderness, and briers ; which were near at hand, and soon cut up, for which he gave orders to proper persons: and with them he taught the men of Succoth ; either the inhabitants of the place, as distinct from the elders, whose punishment he taught them to be cautious not to follow such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:17

And he beat down the tower of Penuel ,.... As he threatened he would, Judges 8:9 whether this was before or after he had chastised the elders of Succoth, is not clear; one would think by the course he steered going from Succoth to Penuel, as he went, he should come to Penuel first at his return; however, he demolished their tower in which they trusted: and slew the men of the city ; perhaps they might, as Kimchi conjectures, resist when he went about to beat down their tower; on which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:14

He described unto him the princes of Succoth - The young man probably gave him the names of seventy persons, the chief men of Succoth, who were those who were most concerned in refusing him and his men the refreshment he requested. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:16

He taught the men of Succoth - Instead of וידע he taught, Houbigant reads וידש he tore; and this is not only agreeable to what Gideon had threatened, Judges 8:7 , but is supported by the Vulgate, Septuagint, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic. The Hebrew text might have been easily corrupted in this place by the change of ש shin into ע ain , letters very similar to each other. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:14

The written (see the margin) list would enable Gideon to punish the guilty and spare the innocent people. Succoth was governed by a sanhedrim or council of seventy elders (compare Numbers 11:16), with perhaps seven others of superior rank called princes. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:16

He taught - Thought to be a false reading, for “he threshed,” as in Judges 8:7 margin. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:17

The men of the city - Perhaps the rulers; who, it is likely, had possession of the tower or citadel, and so could tyrannize over the people. Gideon killed the great men, and beat down their towers, but did not injure the inhabitants. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 8:4-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:17

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