Judges 8:10 says, Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with fifteen thousand men, all that was left of their army after one hundred and twenty thousand had been killed. They had escaped before the border was sealed of by the people of Ephraim. Verse eleven adds, And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. Gideon and his three hundred men, though tired and hungry, did not pursue them directly, but went in a in a way that would cut them off. Even if we are tired, hungry and outnumbered as followers of Christ today and even if we have had great success in our battle against sin and evil today, we cannot be content and just sit back and rest. There will always be more to do in the battle. They met the enemy when they thought they were secure, or at night according to Matthew Henry. Verse twelve continues, And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. Once more, the two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna fled, but Gideon caught them. They seemed to be looking out for their own safety and not concerned about that of ther men. Many so called leaders are the same way today. Verse thirteen states, And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, Gideon returned from the battle before the sun was up. God had given Gideon a quick and complete victory, and though He may not give us as quick a victory over the forces of evil today, He has already given us a complete victory if we are obedient to Him. Verse fourteen adds, And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. Gideon caught up with a young man of Succoth and had him describe the elders of Succoth, which numbered seventy-seven men. These were the men who had refused Gideon's request for bread for his troops. If we as Christians refuse to help our fellow Christians when they are in need, God knows our name and one day we may be held accountable for our actions. Verse fifteen continues, And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? Gideon came to the rulers of Succoth with Zebah and Zalmunna in his captivity, and said that they had asked him if they were when they so recently refused to help him, and now they were. We cannot demand that those who need our help today show us that they are going to be successful in accomplishing what God has called them to do before we help them. Verse sixteen says, And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. Gideon took these rulers of Succoth and beat them with briers to teach them a lesson. He didn't kill them though. I don't believe that we are to beat those who don't help us when we need help to more easily accomplish what God calls us to do today though, but we need to be in prayer for them instead. Verse seventeen adds, And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. Gideon then tore down the tower of Penuel, which they saw as their source of strength, and killed their leaders. If we are looking to earthly things for security as followers of Christ, we need to realize that they are worthless. Verse eighteen states, Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. Gideon then asked Zebah and Zalmunna what the people that they slew at Tabor looked like, and they said they looked like Gideon and each resembled a child of a king. As Christians, we all look alike spiritually, and we are all a child of the King. Verse nineteen adds, And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. Gideon told Zebah and Zalmunna that these men that they killed were his brothers, and had they spared them that he would likewise spare them. If people do not show mercy to others today, they should not expect God to show mercy to them. Verse twenty continues, 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. Gideon told his son oldest son, Jether, to slay the two kings, but he was unable to because of his youth. Those who are young in their faith in Christ today may not yet be able to do some of the harder things required in the fight against sin and evil in the world today, but we need to give them opportunities to grow in faith and do so. Verse twenty-one concludes, Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks. Zebah and Zalmunna asked Gideon to slay them himself as a sign of acknowledgement of their strength, though they really hadn't shown much, so he did. Gideon also took away the ornaments that were on their camel's necks, which were probably a sign of their authority. If we do not accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, one day He will be our judge and take away all the things that we own and think make us better than others.
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