And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.” Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure. And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic. Judges 8:8-12
Gideon faces yet another discouragement from people ho should be on God’s side.
And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered Gideon faces more hard hearts. He asks for food from the city of Penuel. He didn’t ask them to fight on the front lines, only to provide a little support. Yet he gets no help, only excuses. This is the way missionaries must feel when the support to do God’s work is so hard to obtain from God’s people.
When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. We see Gideon response. Rather than cause him to cry to God, he becomes angry with the people and threatens them with punishment and wrath.
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword To Gideon’s credit, he continues to pursue the enemy. The hard
heartedness shown to him does not deter him from doing the work God called him to do. God tells us almost 90% of the Midianite army has been destroyed. Only 15,000 remain – still a sizeable opponent for Gideon’s 300 weary soldiers.
And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehahand attacked the army, for the army felt secure Gideon circles around the Midianite army to remain undetected. The Midianites must feel they have outrun the Israelites and are now safe. There is some indication Karkor was a walled fortification of the tribe of Gad which may have given them confidence and a false sense of security (just as they had when they were encamped against Gideon in the valley of Jezreel). One thing we notice is that there is no indication Gideon’s army ever receives food. This is another miracle of the Lord. He strengthens
us well past our human capabilities. This often goes unnoticed and often no thanks is given to God for sustaining us – a lack of thankfulness that happens way too often.
And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic Just as God led Gideon to do in the valley of Jezreel, Gideon launches another sneak attack on the
Midianites. They likely are as exhausted (as are Gideon’s men) are licking their wounds, trying to figure out what happened. The last thing they expect is to be attacked again but that is exactly what happens. This time God does not give details of how Gideon
achieved the victory except that he approached them from a different direction than they expected. When the attack comes, the army is in disarray once more. Judges tells us the attack caused great panic (terrified or startled). In great fear the two kings of Midian, Zalmunna and Zebah, flee but are quickly captured. Thus the victory God promised Gideon is complete.