13
Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle, from the Ascent of Heres.
14
And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.
15
Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you ridiculed me, saying, 'Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?' "
16
And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
17
Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
18
And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?" So they answered, "As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king."
19
Then he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you."
20
And he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise, kill them!" But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
21
So Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his strength." So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
22
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian."
23
But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you."