Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

It was Gideons place to act the part of the avenger of blood Num 35:12; Deu 19:6. The fierce manners of the age break out in the slaying of the captives (compare 1Sa 15:32-33), and in Gideons attempt to initiate his youthful son Jether in the stern work of slaying his countrys enemies.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. He said unto Jether his first-born] By the ancient laws of war, prisoners taken in war might be either slain, sold, or kept for slaves. To put a captive enemy to death no executioner was required. Gideon slays Zebah and Zalmunna with his own hand. So Samuel is said to have hewn Agag in pieces, 1Sa 15:33. Benaiah slew Joab, 1Kg 2:25. Saul orders his guards to slay the priests who had contributed to the escape of David, 1Sa 22:17; and David caused one of his attendants to slay the Amalekite who pretended to have slain Saul, 2Sa 1:15.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Up and slay them; partly, that he might animate him to the use of arms for his God and country against their enemies, and to the exercise of justice; partly, that the death of those mischievous persons might be more shameful and painful; and partly, that he might have some share in the honour of the victory.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

20. he said unto Jether hisfirst-born, Up, and slay themThe nearest of kin was theblood-avenger; but a magistrate might order any one to do the work ofthe executioner; and the person selected was always of a rank equalor proportioned to that of the party doomed to suffer (1Ki2:29). Gideon intended, then, by the order to Jether, to put anhonor on his son, by employing him to slay two enemies of hiscountry; and on the youth declining, he performed the bloody deedhimself.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And he said unto Jether, his firstborn, up, and slay them,…. Being the near kinsman of his father’s brethren, whom these kings had slain, was a proper person to avenge their blood on them; and the rather Gideon might order him to do it, for the greater mortification of the kings, to die by the hand of a youth; and for the honour of his son, to be the slayer of two kings, and to inure him to draw his sword against the enemies of Israel, and embolden him to do such exploits:

but the youth drew not his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth; his not drawing is sword was not out of disobedience to his father, but through fear of the kings; not of their doing him any harm, being bound; but there was perhaps a ferocity, as well as majesty in their countenances, which made the young man timorous and fearful.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(20) And he said unto Jether.By the jus talionis. as well as by every other consideration of that time, Gideon, as the last survivor of all his kingly brothers, would hold himself justified in putting his captives to death. Jether also would inherit the duties of goel (Num. 35:12; 2Sa. 2:22, &c), and Gideon desired both to train the boy to fearlessness against the enemies of Israel (Jos. 10:24-25). to give him prestige, and to add to the disgrace of the Midianite kings. Again. Gideon must only be judged by the standard and the customs of his own day. (Comp. 1Sa. 15:33, Samuel and Agag; 2Sa. 1:15, David and the Amalekite.) The name Jether is another form of Jethro and means pre-eminence.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

20. Said unto Jether He would add to their disgrace by making them perish by the hand of a boy. They had dared to lift their hands against his kingly brethren, and now, as blood-avenger, he would have them perish with all possible ignominy and reproach.

He feared The youth was not used to such bloody work, and perhaps the threatening looks of the two captive kings terrified him.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘ And he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Up, and slay them”.’ But the youth drew not his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth.’

The men had slain members of his own family. It was therefore required that revenge be obtained through a blood relative, and he wanted his son to have the honour of slaying these great kings. If he did it himself it would be as Judge of Israel, but this was a personal family matter, and he wanted it to be carried out as such.

“But the youth drew not his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth.” His son had not experienced battle and killing. And like his father he was not a man of unnecessary cruelty. And he hesitated to draw his sword and act as executioner.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

“Handfuls of Purpose”

For All Gleaners

“But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.” Jdg 8:20 .

Too much must not be expected from youth. It was a hard thing that Jether was here asked to do. We may discourage youth by expecting too much from it at once. It is well for that youth who understands the limits of his strength, and keeps well within them. There is an audacity which it is hard to distinguish from impiety. By imposing too heavy responsibilities upon youth, we may either inflame its vanity or discourage its modesty. Every man is to consider what he can do, with propriety, and not to force himself to the front, unless others have proved unworthy of the occasion. Under other circumstances youth is called upon to do the very hardest work. When that is the case, the revelation of duty will be made clear. It was David who was called upon to slay Goliath. David said, “Is there not a cause?” He was the subject of an inspiration unknown to others; he was obeying a voice which others could not hear. It is easy to rebuke youth for not doing certain things from which young modesty shrinks; it is better to recognise the modesty than to magnify the fear. Young people do not become accustomed to the sword all at once. For a time they must be kept at home, watching the “few sheep in the wilderness,” or planting a few flowers in the domestic garden; by-and-by they may grow up to be soldiers and valiant men. In the meantime, let us not condemn the Jethers of the age when they hesitate to shed blood.

Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker

Jdg 8:20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, [and] slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he [was] yet a youth.

Ver. 20. And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. ]

“ Adeo a teneris assuescere magnum est. ”

Gideon would inure his son to manlike actions from his youth, and make him share with him in the honour of his victory.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Jos 10:24, 1Sa 15:33, Psa 149:9

Reciprocal: 2Sa 1:15 – Go near 1Ki 2:25 – he fell

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jdg 8:20. He said unto Jether, Up, and slay them Some think he said this to animate his son to the use of arms for his God and country, and that he might have a share in the honour of the victory. It must be observed, that it was not unusual or disgraceful for great persons to do execution upon offenders in ancient times; no more than it was to sentence them to death: and therefore they had not, as now, public executioners; but Saul commanded such as waited on him to kill the priests; and Doeg, one of his great officers, performed that office, 1Sa 22:17-18. And Samuel himself is said to have hewed Agag to pieces in Gilgal; and Benaiah, the general of the army, to have fallen upon Joab at the horns of the altar. But the youth feared The two kings were men, it is likely, of good stature, and of a fierce and stern countenance.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments