He said to Zebah and Zalmunna,
“Describe for me the men you killed
at Tabor.” They said, “They were like you.
Each one looked like a king’s son.”
Judges 8:18
The two kings now stand before Gideon, humbled, broken and defeated. They once chased he and his men, and now stand captured and powerless. The have watched him persecute the Elders of Succoth, and tear down the tower and kill the men of Penuel. Now they stand face to face with the man who’s life they sought to take, after watching him take out his anger and vengeance on a group that feared them we enough not to help them. 
Gideon questioned them about the encounter that placed them on his list. He asks them a question to confront them about their decision and their awareness of what they had done. “Describe for me the men you killed at Tabor”, he said. Tabor, a place at the foot of the mountain, housed the bodies of slain brothers of Gideon and the troop. Zebah and Zalmunna led their two armies as one to take the lives of those who believed in God.
The importance of them describing the men to Gideon, was their acknowledgement that they were aware of the lives they had taken. The significance is found in them verbalizing their choice to end these lives. Much like Gideon, they had looked the men at Tabor in the eyes, and placed sword to action, spilling the blood of these men to further their cause. They did this, not considering the families and communities that would suffer because of their loss.
They looked at Gideon, they one who had their lives in his hand, and spoke “They were like you….” They looked just like you, telling Gideon that they had taken the lives of people that bore his image. What a disrespect this was. Had Gideon been present at the foot of the mountain, Zebah and Zalmunna would have taken his life without a second thought. This had to have fueled Gideon even more. Pouring un-needed fuel on the fire of a man that was consumed in the moment by the pain.
They conclude their statement, “Each one looked like a king’s son” they continued. This statement continue to pour fuel on the fire. Zebah and Zalmunna say, “Each one looked like a kings son”. The words “each one” informed Gideon that they both looked at each person and took consideration before taking each life.
Furthermore, from the “each one”, the equated them to the likeness of “king’s son.” It is as though they were acknowledging they considered the very potential and future of each soldier, and erased their potential. A kings son is one that is valued in the community as one that carries the gene, future, image, substance of his predecessor. He will continue the legacy of the father, protecting and expanding the kingdom into future generations. As a child of God, he will make sure the image of God is replicated in those that are born and those they encounter. They were people who were cared for, pillars of their community, bridges to future endeavors, and they looked each one in the eye and individually removed them from their communities.
In addition, they acknowledged that they were aware these were God’s people. In all this, Gideons information was confirmed. These people deserved the worst because of their willing participation of the destruction of God’s people. Gideon would reach deep and avenge the death of each soldier, speaking loudly for each family that shed a tear, and making a statement for the God that they served as to his care for them. The ground of Tabor contained the blood of the innocent, and now the town of Penuel will hold the blood of the guilty.
What is interesting as I read the passage is that Gideon is going to take the lives of Zebah and Zalmunna for doing a similar act that he just performed. He placed himself in the position as judge and jury, and sentences them to eternity. Gideon took to heart what and Eye for an Eye meant. He, like many of us are able to feel completely justified in our actions, while finding complete disgust for those who carry out the same actions we commit. Gideon had slain innocent men in two cities because they refused to help him, and is punishing two men who fought nobly to expand their kingdoms (did I say nobly?).
Nobility is found in the cause. I know, I know; their cause was against the children of God! There cause is still deemed noble because they were fighting for their own cause. Much like our forefathers felt noble on the crusades, and locals felt noble bombing abortion clinics, modern day extremist and disillusioned participants perform their acts as righteous.
Though we all have feelings about what is right and wrong, we approach said topics knowing that God is the judge. Vengeance must belong to the Lord! Only He is filled with mercy, grace and truth, while man lack the fortitude to remain without checks and balances. Mankind is not able to be fully unbiased in its effort to carry out judgement and justice.
Gideon tore down the tower. I love how simple God has this stated. Though we can be sure Gideon didn’t tear the tower down with his bare hands, but the scripture lets us know that the tearing down of the tower was at the hands of and the responsibility of Gideon. He chose to act out on his feelings of anger, and lead his men not just into victory, but to punish the men of Succoth and tear down the tower of Peneul. Some of us hide behind the chain of command. We give the order, and then see ourselves as innocent and refuse to bare the responsibility. Hear this: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE! If you gave the order you made the decision to carry out the pain and suffering.
up, facing the sword. Gathering their last moments and attempting to live them with dignity and honor, as Gideon imposes his will on them through torture.
I am sure they heard the cascading message of the battle, and braced themselves for the encounter with Gideon. While they hoped the moment would pass, they were ready to face it, and prepared to embrace it. And true to form, a leader will always have to answer for his decisions. Many of us have been chosen to bear the scars that come along with leadership. Leaders make decision knowing that they receive the full showering of the victory, and the terrible lashing that come along with defeat. Yet, we lead.
Leaders must stay balanced, accepting the good with the bad, focused on the people, not on the potential pain. And while they might learn and choose differently in the future, they remain at peace with their decision, because it took into account the information of yesterday, not the data of today. The reality is, everyone is correct after the fact! Leaders know this, and don’t waiver with criticism or failings.
those that they admired and respected. And truly they did. They watched as their leaders were punished for the decision they made with them in mind. And while some of them feared Gideon, I am willing to bet some gained more respect for the ones that bore stripes from the thorns and briers.
Yes, he made them put some respect on his name. Where they might have spoken his name causally, he wanted to insure that it was spoken from this point on with reverence, fear and trembling.
He has the men gathered, and has one of the greatest “Your not going to believe this…” moments in history! They gather in front of him to see one of their newest and greatest fears and are about to live out their latest regret; a revengeful Gideon. Gideon full of frustration and anger, holds up his trophies in front of the his doubters. His audience stood polarized, watching Zebah and Zalmunna stand helplessly before them. While confronting them, no doubt, he had revenge and making the doubters respect him.
And so do we! We accept the call from God. Chase down the goals, conquering feats, surviving battles, overcoming obstacles and somehow, we forget that it is He working through us that allows us to defeat armies of 50 to 1. God protects us through times of lack; keeping us while we are starving, and still allowing us to excel, and yet the words that come from our mouth don’t honor Him. I thought about Gideon, and gave praise because God protected Him,though he lost his focus as to why he was fighting and how he was going to win.
I can imagine that Gideon was walking so proudly back to the group, ready to display his capture. He was eager to make the doubters eat their words, and to uphold the promise that he gave them. He would torture the leaders of Succoth and destroy the tower in Peniel. I’m sure they saw him approaching victoriously, and knew that he would honor his word, and that suffering was about to be experienced at his hands.
I thank God that as we follow Him, He gives us moments where we are validated. Times where those who doubted, feel foolish for not believing in the God we serve, and in some cases are inspired to follow the God we serve or even gain faith in us and our abilities.
The young man protects His life and writes on the paper. My heart goes out to this young man, as his efforts to steer clear place him as a cog in the effort to severely punish 77 people. In this “snitches get stitches” culture, we should acknowledge that his safety with the community once Gideon leaves. 
Not were they just 77 people, but 77 Elders, which were leaders in the community. I’m sure as he wrote, he knew his part in this effort, would remove much wisdom and some resources from the community. This small community would be challenged, but the injury and loss caused to its leaders. Remember, Gideon’s plan is to gather thorns and briers and to tear their flesh. He want’s to make them suffer by shedding their blood. Lord forbid that this young man could potentially watch his country deteriorate.
Though they had the numbers, the text tells us that they fled. Here two kings are, previously victorious in battle, now retreating, and fleeing to save their lives. Their encounter with Gideon and God has taught them that God can make your advantage a disadvantage.
Gideon was representing the King of Kings, and though he had to fight two kings, he knew that the true battle was the Lords. He knew that God would go before him, and where he needed to fight, God would prepare his path, provide a plan, power his people, and prove him victorious.
I envisioned a chess board with all the pawns, horsemen, bishops and castles, set aside with the queen with nothing protecting it. I see the king laying on its side, surrendering to an eventual death, because it has nothing to cover or deflect from putting it into check. We must remain confident that God will do what He said. We must look at our circumstances as unfolding stories with many chapters. The text says that Gideon was able to win “…routing their entire army”.
It could be that the Nomads were still distributed on the road. We don’t know this, but what we are sure of is that Gideon and the 300 traveled the path in such a way that the caught the 15,000 of guard.
