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GIDEON:  A JUDGE AND A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR

 

The Provisions Refused by Succoth and Penuel

Judges 8:4-9

Lesson #15

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Having calmed the emotions of Ephraim, it was time for Gideon to continue the battle.

 

B.      The battle, however, was taking its toll on his men.  Twice we will learn that they were faint.

 

C.     In those times, help is sometimes needed. 

1.       Others often have the provisions that are needed.

2.       In order to procure them, however, one has to ask.

3.       Sadly, not all who are asked are willing to give aid.

4.       Such will be the case for Gideon.

 

D.     In this lesson, lets look at this topic:  “The Provisions Refused by Succoth and Penuel.”

 

I.                    THE RESUMING OF THE ATTACK (Judges 8:4)

 

A.     The Site of the Crossing (Jud. 8:4a)

 

And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him…

 

1.       We are not told where Gideon and his men crossed the Jordan.

2.       Surely, he would have tried to pick the place where the river was narrow and the water was shallow.

3.       Getting three hundred men and their horses across the river would takes both time and effort.

 

B.      The Shape of the Men (Jud. 8:4b)

 

…faint, yet pursuing them.

 

1.       Faint

a.       Strong (5589):  languid                       :-  faint, thirsty, weary

b.      BDB:  faint, exhausted, weary

2.       There were several factors that could have caused the men to be weary.

a.       The anticipation of battle expends a lot of energy.

b.      The initial conflict might have been pretty severe as the Midianites fled.

c.       They had to pursue after the Midianites.

d.      They had to cross the Jordan River.

e.       We are not told how much time had passed, but they had definitely lost sleep since the battle began after 10:00 p.m. at night.

f.        Most likely, they have not eaten any food.

3.       “…yet pursuing them.”

a.       There are times when physical needs must be set aside in order to obtain victory.

b.      Had they stopped, the enemy might have escaped or might have regrouped.

 

 

II.                 THE REQUEST FOR HELP FROM SUCCOTH (Judges 8:5-7)

 

A.     The Solicitation for Assistance (Jud. 8:5)

 

And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

 

1.       The Community of Succoth:  “…the men of Succoth…”

a.       Succoth was a town in the tribe of Gad, a tribe that was located in the Transjordan region.

b.      Location:

 

Map of Gideon's pursuit of the fleeing Midianite army.

 

c.       Since Succoth was of a tribe of Israel, Gideon would expect assistance from them while delivering them from their oppressors.

2.       The Call for Bread:  “…I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me…”

a.       He did not call these individuals to the battle itself.

b.      He simply asked for a basic staple, bread.

c.       Bread would have helped them men gain some much needed energy to continue their pursuit of the Midianites.

d.      LESSONS:

1)      As their leader, Gideon was concerned for the well-being of his men. (Saul, I Sam. 14:24).

2)      As the leader, Gideon did not put in a request for himself, but rather for his 300 men.

3.       The Cause for the Request:  “…for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”

a.       Three things are noted:

1)      The men were exhausted and weary.

2)      The men were engaged in the act of delivering Israel from oppression and bondage.

3)      The men were pursuing the kings of Midian that held sway over Israel, Zebah and Zalmunna.

b.      All of these things should have pulled at both the rational and heart-strings of the city of Succoth.  It seems that it would have been in their best interest to help fill this need.

1)      Doing good is always the right thing to do

a)      Psalm 37:3

 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

 

b)      Galatians 6:10

 

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 

2)      If the men of Succoth loved, their brethren, they would have rendered assistance.

a)      Deuteronomy 15:7-8

 

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.  But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth.

 

b)      I John 3:17

 

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

B.      The Suppression of Help by Succoth (Jud. 8:6)

 

And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

 

1.       Since Zebah and Zalmunna had not yet been captured, the princes of Succoth refused to give Gideon any provisions.

2.       They were betting on Midian to ultimately be victorious in this battle. 

3.       If they helped Gideon and he lost, there might be retribution from the kings down the road.

4.       Keil & Delitzsch:  “ In these words there is not only an expression of cowardice, or fear of the vengeance which the Midianites might take when they returned upon those who had supported Gideon and his host, but contempt of the small force which Gideon had, as if it were impossible for him to accomplish anything at all against the foe; and in this contempt they manifested their utter want of confidence in God” (e-sword).

5.       LESSON:  There are many individuals who look out for their best interests instead of seeking the best interests of others. 

 

C.     The Suffering Predicted by Gideon (Jud. 8:7)

 

And Gideon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and briers.

 

1.       Gideon knew he would be victorious over his enemies.  The Lord had promised him victory.

2.       When the victory transpired, Gideon would return to bring punishment upon Succoth.

3.       The punishment:  “…then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and briers.”

a.       Tear

1)      Strong (1758):  to trample or thresh

2)      BDB:  to tread out, thresh

b.      Some threshing instrument of that time may have been made from the long, strong thorns found in the wilderness.  If they were to touch the flesh, they could cut deep into the skin and inflict severe pain.

c.       The punishment Gideon would inflict on Succoth was going to be of that nature.  He would trample the people of Succoth and inflict pain and death upon them.

 

III.              THE REQUEST FOR HELP FROM PENUEL (Judges 8:8-9)

 

A.     The Stance Taken by Penuel (Jud. 8:8)

 

He went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise:  and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

 

1.       The men of Penuel answered Gideon just as Succoth did.

2.       It is interesting that the name Penuel means:  “facing God.”  On this occasion, however, instead of facing God, they turned their faces from Him.

 

B.      The Shattering of the Tower (Jud. 8:9)

 

And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

 

1.       Gideon spoke to the men of Penuel regarding the victory he would obtain.  He said he would come again in peace.  He would have gained peace from his enemies.

2.       He forewarned them that he would “break down this tower.”

a.       This might have been a place of security for the inhabitants of the city in time of warfare.

b.      Keil and Delitzsch suggest that it may refer to the palace within the city.

c.       Undoubtedly, it was something in which the men of Penuel put some pride and trust. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     In times of warfare, we think that we can trust our brethren to render assistance to us, especially if that assistance is relatively simple.

 

B.      However, we find that people often calculate the risks and seek their own welfare first.  Such was the behavior of the princes of Succoth and the men of Penuel.

 

C.     Gideon would now have to pursue the enemy famished and weary.  The battle would be won, but it would be much more difficult for his 300 men.