6. The town leaders of Succoth answered, “Why should we feed your army? We don't know if you really will defeat Zebah and Zalmunna.”
7. “Just wait!” Gideon said. “After the Lord helps me defeat them, I'm coming back here. I'll make a whip out of thorns and rip the flesh from your bones.”
8. After leaving Succoth, Gideon went to Penuel and asked the leaders there for some food. But he got the same answer as he had got at Succoth.
9. “I'll come back safe and sound,” Gideon said, “but when I do, I'm going to tear down your tower!”
10. Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with an army of fifteen thousand troops. They were all that was left of the army of the eastern nations, because one hundred and twenty thousand of their warriors had been killed in the battle.
11. Gideon reached the enemy camp by going east along Nomad Road past Nobah and Jogbehah. He made a surprise attack,
12. and the enemy panicked. Zebah and Zalmunna tried to escape, but Gideon chased and captured them.
13. After the battle, Gideon set out for home. As he was going through Heres Pass,
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.
21. “What's the matter, Gideon?” Zebah and Zalmunna asked. “Do it yourself, if you're not too much of a coward!”Gideon jumped up and killed them both. Then he took the fine gold ornaments from the necks of their camels.