Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so 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. Judges 8:18-21
After Gideon retaliates against the cities of Succoth and Penuel, his attention turns to the two Midianite kings. Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” Gideon knows something that makes this situation personal (and possibly the reason for his fury).. He asks them what manner of men (what were they like) they killed in Tabor. He clearly has some knowledge about an atrocity that occurred – perhaps the battle Barak fought at Mount Tabor. (Judges 4:14)
They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” The two kings tell Gideon that the men looked like him. This is perhaps a taunt at Gideon.
And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother Gideon answers that they are responsible for killing his blood bothers.
As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you. Gideon tells them that he would not kill them (as God commanded) if they had not killed his brothers (his vengeance and anger). Again we see the passion of Gideon replacing the leading of the Lord. (Gideon is taking his role of administering justice very seriously. So seriously that he is doing what is right in his own eyes but not seeking God’s direction.)
So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” Jether is the firstborn of Gideon’s seventy sons. His name means surplus or excellence. To demean the kings Gideon wants his son to kill them showing how little they are in his eyes.
But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. Gideon’s rage placed his son in a position he can not handle. As a young man he did not have a taste for war and death (remember God fought the battle so far). Like his father he is fearful and therefore reluctant to do what his father asks. (Parent’s sin can put their children in difficult situations.)
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” The two kings mock Gideon. “Be a man and do the job yourself”. The indicate they want him to approach them. Perhaps they plan to attack him if he gets close. Their words mock him try for using his son to do a man’s job.
And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna Gideon acts immediately. He slew (slaughtered) the two kings, in the town of Penuel where he just murdered all the males. Gideon’s retaliation is complete.
He took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels Gideon takes trophies of war – the crescent ornaments worn by the camels. These were either representations of the moon god or emblems of the royalty of the kings.
What can we learn? We see the driving force behind Gideon’s pursuit of the Midianites deep into their territory. As the youngest brother (Judges 6:15) Gideon wants vengeance for the murder of his brothers. We see the great danger to believers who, for motives other than to serve God with a whole heart, do God’s work to
achieve their own purposes. That never ends well and it won’t for Gideon (or us).