Judges 8:21
19 “They were my brothers,” Gideon replied, “the sons of my mother! As surely as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.”
20 So he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” But the young man did not draw his sword; he was fearful because he was still a youth.
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and kill us yourself, for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments from the necks of their camels.
22 Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
23 But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.”
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
- Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and kill us yourself, for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments from the necks of their camels.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.
- ASV
- 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 the crescents that were on their camels` necks.
- DARBY
- Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall on us; for as is the man, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna; and he took the moons that were on their camels' necks.
- BLB
- And Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and kill us, for as the man, [is] his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that [were] on the necks of their camels.
- ÅB
- Da sa Sebah og Salmunna: Kom selv og hugg oss ned! For som mannen er, så er hans styrke. Så gikk Gideon fram og slo Sebah og Salmunna ihjel, og han tok de halvmåner som deres kameler hadde om halsen.
- OTB
- Sebah og Salmunna sa: «Reis deg selv og slå oss; for som mannen er, så er hans styrke.» Så trådte Gideon frem og drepte Sebah og Salmunna, og tok ornamentene fra kamelene deres hals.
- B1930
- Da sa Sebah og Salmunna: Kom selv og hugg oss ned! For som mannen er, så er hans styrke. Så gikk Gideon frem og slo Sebah og Salmunna ihjel, og han tok de halvmåner som deres kameler hadde om halsen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 83:11
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
Read in contextIsaiah 3:18
In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;
Read in contextJudges 8:26
The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.
Read in context1 Samuel 31:5
When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him.
Read in contextRevelation 9:6
In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.
Read in context1 Samuel 31:3
When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
Read in contextJudges 9:54
He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
Read in contextPsalms 83:1
O God, be not silent; be not speechless; be not still, O God.
Read in context