14 and captured a young man from Succoth. He questioned him, and the young man wrote down for him the names of the 77 officials and leaders of Succoth.
15 Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me when you said, ‘We shouldn’t give your exhausted men food before you’ve captured Zebah and Zalmunna.’”
16 So Gideon took the leaders of the city and taught them a lesson using thorns and thistles from the desert.
17 Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of that city.
18 He asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?”They answered, “They were like you. Each one looked like a king’s son.”
19 Gideon replied, “They were my brothers, my mother’s sons. I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not have to kill you now.”
20 Then he told Jether, his firstborn son, “Get up and kill them!” But Jether didn’t draw his sword. He was afraid because he was only a young man.