Judges 8:2-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 8:1-3

No sooner were the Midianites, the common enemy, subdued, than, through the violence of some hot spirits, the children of Israel were ready to quarrel among themselves; an unhappy spark was struck, which, if Gideon had not with a great deal of wisdom and grace extinguished immediately, might have broken out into a flame of fatal consequence. The Ephraimites, when they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon as general, instead of congratulating him upon his successes and addressing him... read more

Matthew Henry

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 8:2

And he said unto them ,.... In a very mild and gentle manner, giving soft words, which turn away wrath: what have I done in comparison of you ? he and his men, he signifies, had only blew trumpets, broke pitchers, and held torches; it was the Lord that did all, and set the Midianites one against another to slay each other; and in the pursuit as yet he had only picked up and slain some common soldiers, they had taken two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and had brought their heads in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:3

God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb ,.... A high honour this conferred upon you, and with which you may be well contented: and what was I able to do in comparison of you ? what he had done in defeating and pursuing the army of Midian, in slaying and taking any of them prisoners, was nothing in comparison of what they had done; nay, he signifies that he was not capable of doing anything worth mentioning without them; the glory of finishing this conquest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:4

And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over ..... That river; See Gill on Judges 7:25 he and three hundred men that were with him, at the defeat of the Midianites in the valley of Jezreel; so that neither at that nor in the pursuit of them hitherto, had he lost one man: faint, yet pursuing them : they were faint with being up all night, and continually blowing their trumpets; and had been upon the pursuit of their enemies ever since the defeat; and yet, though they were so faint, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:5

And he said to the men of Succoth ,.... The inhabitants of that place, the principal men of it, which lay in his way as he was pursuing the Midianites in their flight to their own country; for this was a city on the other side Jordan, and in the tribe of Gad and was inhabited by Israelites, Joshua 13:27 it had its name from the booths or tents which Jacob erected here, Genesis 33:17 . give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me ; he did not desire them to leave... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:6

And the princes of Succoth said ,.... The chief magistrates of the place made answer, one in the name of the rest; for the word said is in the singular number: are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hands ; that is, are they taken prisoners, and handcuffed, or their hands bound behind them, and put into the hands of Gideon, to do with them as he pleased? no, they were not; and they suggest they never would, deriding him and his small number of men as not a match for these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:7

And Gideon said ,.... In answer to the princes of Succoth: therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand ; of which he made no doubt, having the promise of God that he would deliver the host of Midian into his hand, on which his faith rested; and having it in great part performed already, most firmly believed the full performance of it, see Judges 7:7 . then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with briers ; which grew in a... read more

John Gill

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

And he went up thence to Penuel ,.... A place not far from Succoth, and to which also Jacob gave name, from the Lord's appearing to him there face to face, Genesis 32:30 but here was nothing of God in this place now: and spoke unto them likewise ; desired bread for his men, as he had of the inhabitants of Succoth: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him ; denied him his request in the same jeering manner. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:9

In a threatening way, as he had spoken to the men of Succoth: saying, when I come again in peace: having conquered all his enemies, and delivered Israel from their bondage, and restored peace and prosperity to them, of which he had no doubt: I will break down this tower ; pointing to it and which stood in their city, and in which they placed their confidence; and when he threatened them, boasted of it as their security. read more

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