Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:6
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?
6. the princes of Succoth ] i.e. the executive officials of the community, responsible for its government, e.g. Jdg 9:30 (‘ruler,’ lit. ‘prince’), or for the conduct of its wars, e.g. Jdg 7:25, Jdg 8:3. See further on Jdg 8:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The number of the followers of Zebah and Zalmunna was still so formidable, and Gideons enterprise still so doubtful, that the men of Succoth (being on the same side of the Jordan) would not risk the vengeance of the Midianites by giving supplies to Gideons men.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Jdg 8:6-17
The princes of Succoth . . . The men of Penuel.
Patience under provocation
Instead of being supported, as they had good right to expect they would have been, by those who profess to be the Lords people, instances are by no means rare of men of Gideons stamp being met on their part by scoffs and insinuations, and positive refusals along with cold prudential admonitions to attend to their own business, and allow matters just to take their course. Nor is this all. There are some who go even farther still–men who, while professing to be the friends of truth, are found actually, out of deliberate malice, envy, or jealousy, refusing to lend a lending hand and casting obstacles in the way of accomplishing the reformation on which their generous hearts are set. Now of all this we are furnished with a striking illustration in what is here recorded as having passed between Gideon and the men of Succoth and Penuel. Yet mark how nobly he continued to restrain the impulse of his resentment–an example which naturally reminds us of that of one greater far than Gideon, when He met with treatment similar, yet worse still, at the hands of those whom He had come to seek and to save from a servitude more deplorable by far. Oh, how amazing was His long-suffering forbearance! How analogous also to the conduct of Gideon, while infinitely more worthy of our admiration, was the patient perseverance with which He went on His way, still carrying forward the work which His Father had given Him to do, and for the sake of those very people who thus shamefully requited His love and service and self-denial, exposed Himself to still greater privations and still severer sufferings than any He had yet borne! Oh, if we wonder at the behaviour of the Ephraimites and the men of Succoth and Penuel toward Gideon son of Joash under provocation so aggravated, what ought we to think of Jesus the Son of God in bearing with us as He does! Yet, from what afterwards took place, let us beware how we presume on the long-suffering to which we owe so much. If the promises of Christ are yea and amen, so also are His threatenings; let us never for one moment lose sight of that! Gideon contented himself meanwhile with simply threatening the men of Succoth and Penuel, the former that he would tear their flesh with thorns (Jdg 8:7), the latter that he would break down their tower (Jdg 8:8) But afterwards, when he returned from taking vengeance on his countrys enemies at Karkor, thereby crowning his enterprise with complete success, then he fulfilled these threatenings to the very letter. And even so it shall be with all the enemies of Jesus, with all who decline to come to the help of the Lord against the mighty, at that day when He shall come again, to be admired of all them that love Him, and to take vengeance on all besides. Sooner or later the judgment He has threatened shall descend upon them. (W. W. Duncan, M. A.)
Punishment of the selfish and mean-spirited
These men were blind to the glory of the common cause–selfish, poor-spirited creatures, that shut themselves up in their fenced cities, and were satisfied to let Gods soldiers starve, and Gods work come to an end for want of support, so long only as they had bread enough to satisfy their own hunger. This was a state of mind not to be corrected by a mere civil speech or explanation. Gideon taught them, not by expostulation, but by the sword and with the briers of the wilderness. Can we say that there are none now who merit the same punishment? none who resist every appeal to assist those who are faint by pursuing Gods work? There are still men who have no eye for spiritual importance, but measure all things by their outward appearance and by their relation to their own comfort; men who fortify themselves in their ungenerous selfishness by asking, as these men of Succoth did, What have you made of this pursuit in which you want us to assist you? what great good have you done, that we should help you? Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should acknowledge you as useful men, and give you what you ask to help you on in your pursuit? For such persons, who despise the day of small things, who cannot recognise God if He takes on Him the form of a little child, nor His Church when it exists as a grain of mustard-seed, there remains the doom of seeing the whole work of God in the world finished without their aid, and of hearing the voice of God Himself in rebuke, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish! (Marcus Dods, D.D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 6. Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand] They feared to help Gideon, lest, if he should be overpowered, the Midianites would revenge it upon them; and they dared not trust God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Art thou so foolish to think, with thy three hundred faint and weary soldiers, to conquer and destroy a host of fifteen thousand men?
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. the princes of Succoth said, Arethe hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine handan insolentas well as a time-serving reply. It was insolent because it implied abitter taunt that Gideon was counting with confidence on a victorywhich they believed he would not gain; and it was time-serving,because living in the near neighborhood of the Midianite sheiks, theydreaded the future vengeance of those roving chiefs. Thiscontumelious manner of acting was heartless and disgraceful in peoplewho were of Israelitish blood.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 kings, whom, perhaps a little before, they had seen pass by with 15,000 men; with whom his little army would not be able to encounter, should they turn and fall upon them, which they supposed would be the case; and therefore, say they, when these are in thine hands, which they thought would never be, it will be time enough
that we should give bread to thine army? for they feared, should they do that, these kings would hear of it, and they should suffer for it, and their bondage be harder than it was before; so selfish and diffident in themselves, so cruel and uncompassionate to their brethren, and so ungrateful to their deliverers, which stirred up the spirit of this humble and good man to great resentment.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand?Literally, Is the fist (caph) of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand (yad)? The general meaning, of course, is clear: Are you so completely victor as to secure us from the vengeance of these kings? (Comp. 1Ki. 20:11.) But what the exact shade of meaning is in this proverbial expression we do not know. Perhaps it is an allusion to the chained hands of captives. Nor do we know whether the tone of the elders of Succoth was one of derision or only of cowardice. In any case, they were guilty of inhumanity, want of faith, want of courage, and want of patriotism.
That we should give bread unto thine army.They use the exaggerated term army, as though to magnify the sacrifice required of them. Gideon had only said my followers.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army.’
These would be the chief men of the town, honoured among the elders. ‘Said’ is in the singular. One spoke for them all. They were frightened of the sword arms of the Midianite kings which were still free. The kings would not look kindly on those who offered hospitality to those who were their enemies. This counted to them more than the covenant. The reference to hands may reflect the custom of cutting off the hands of the slain in order to assess their numbers, although for leaders the head would appear to have been the norm, as recognisable (Jdg 7:25; 1Sa 17:51 ; 1Sa 31:9; 2Sa 4:12; 2Sa 20:22).
However the Shechemites were being ironic. The reference to ‘your army’ may well have been derisory. They did not consider it much of an army. But they knew what their covenant responsibility was and deliberately rejected it for the sake of safety. In view of the contrast between the two armies they felt that they were quite safe. So they refused bread to their brothers.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 8:6. Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand This was an insulting irreligious taunt, which shewed at once that these persons believed not the divine interposition in behalf of Gideon, and, at the same time, were enemies to the true religion; no wonder, therefore, that Gideon replies to them with great severity, and afterwards inflicts upon them the punishment which they deserve. See note on Jdg 8:16.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jdg 8:6 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?
Ver. 6. And the princes of Succoth said. ] They not only deny him so reasonable a request, but deride and scornfully treat him, in like sort as afterwards Nabal the churl did David; which vexed him not a little.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 5:23, Gen 25:13, Gen 37:25, Gen 37:28, 1Sa 25:10, 1Sa 25:11, 1Ki 20:11, 2Ki 14:9, Pro 18:23, Phi 2:21
Reciprocal: Jos 13:27 – Succoth Jdg 8:15 – upbraid 1Ch 20:3 – with saws Psa 108:7 – the valley
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 8:6. Are the hands of Zeba and Zalmunna now in thy hand? Art thou so foolish as to think with thy three hundred faint and weary soldiers to conquer and destroy fifteen thousand men? Thus they make light of the advantage he had gained, and tauntingly tell him, that he had not yet got these kings into his hands, that they should run the danger of giving him and his men food, and so afterward have those kings to fall upon them. Thus they show the most dastardly and ungenerous spirit, and shut up the bowels of their compassion against their brethren, who, with extreme toil, and at the hazard of their lives, were endeavouring to deliver them and the rest of their country from a cruel slavery. Were these Israelites! Surely they were worshippers of Baal, or in the interest of Midian.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:6 And the princes of Succoth said, [Are] the {e} hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
(e) Because you have overcome a handful, do you think to have overcome the whole?