Judges 8:10

8 From there he went up to Penuel and asked the same from them, but the men of Penuel gave the same response as the men of Succoth.

9 So Gideon told the men of Penuel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower!”

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army of about fifteen thousand men—all that were left of the armies of the people of the east. A hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had already fallen.

11 And Gideon went up by way of the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their army, taking them by surprise.

12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army of about fifteen thousand men—all that were left of the armies of the people of the east. A hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had already fallen.
KJV
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.
WEB
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.
ASV
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the host of the children of the east; for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
DARBY
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camp with them, about fifteen thousand [men], all that were left of the whole camp of the children of the east; for there had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
BLB
And Zebah and Zalmunna [were] at Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the camp of the sons of the East; for had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword.
ÅB
Men Sebah og Salmunna lå i Karkor med sine hærer, omkring femten tusen mann; det var alt som var igjen av hele østerlendingenes hær; men de falne var hundre og tyve tusen mann som kunne dra sverd.
OTB
Nå var Sebah og Salmunna i Karkor med omkring femten tusen menn, alt som var igjen av hærene til de østlige folkene; hundre og tjue tusen sverdmenn hadde falt.
B1930
Men Sebah og Salmunna lå i Karkor med sine hærer, omkring femten tusen mann; det var alt som var igjen av hele østerlendingenes hær; men de falne var hundre og tyve tusen mann som kunde dra sverd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Judges 7:12

    Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 3:26

    When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail.

    Read in context
  • Judges 20:35

    The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.

    Read in context
  • Judges 20:46

    That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.

    Read in context
  • Judges 20:2

    The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 9:4

    For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.

    Read in context
  • Judges 20:25

    That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.

    Read in context
  • Judges 20:17

    The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.

    Read in context