8:10-12
FInally Gideon catches up with Zebah and Zalmunna. They had a force of fifteen thousand men, having started out with one hundred and twenty thousand. It isn’t that clear whether Gideon still has only three hundred (8:4) or has a somewhat larger force (7:23,24). Anyway, he routs the enemy. The two kings flee, but are captured.
8:13-21
Gideon then carries out his threats to the men of Sukkoth, punishing them with desert thorns and briars. He also carried out vengeance against the men of Peniel. Finally, the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, are killed. Initially Gideon wanted his son to kill them, but he refused, being only a boy, and being afraid. The two Midianite kings taunted Gideon, so Gideon carried out the deed. So at this point one could either say Gideon is becoming bolder, or that he is becoming full of himself, becoming rather proud. Given the events that will follow, the latter explanation seems the more likely.
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