14. he caught a young man who lived in Succoth. Gideon asked him who the town officials of Succoth were, and the young man wrote down seventy-seven names.
15. Gideon went to the town officials and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. Remember how you made fun of me? You said, ‘We don't know if you really will defeat those two Midianite kings. So why should we feed your worn out army?’ ”
16. Gideon made a whip from thorn plants and used it to beat the town officials.
17. Afterwards he went to Penuel, where he tore down the tower and killed all the town officials there.
18. Then Gideon said, “Zebah and Zalmunna, tell me about the men you killed at Tabor.”“They were a lot like you,” the two kings answered. “They were dignified, almost like royalty.”
19. “They were my very own brothers!” Gideon said. “I swear by the living Lord that if you had let them live, I would let you live.”
20. Gideon turned to Jether, his eldest son. “Kill them!” Gideon said.But Jether was young, and he was too afraid even to pull out his sword.