Hakim-hakim 8:6

8:6 The officials of Succoth said, “You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give ¹  bread to your army?” ² 

Hakim-hakim 8:14

8:14 He captured a young man from Succoth ³  and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of Succoth’s officials and city leaders – seventy-seven men in all. ⁴ 

Hakim-hakim 15:10

15:10 The men of Judah said, “Why are you attacking ⁵  us?” The Philistines ⁶  said, “We have come up to take Samson prisoner so we can do to him what he has done to us.”

[8:6]  ¹ tn Or perhaps, “sell.”

[8:6]  ² tn Heb “Are the palms of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give to your army bread?” Perhaps the reference to the kings’ “palms” should be taken literally. The officials of Succoth may be alluding to the practice of mutilating prisoners or enemy corpses (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 155).

[8:6]  sn The officials of Succoth are hesitant to give (or sell) food to Gideon’s forces because they are not sure of the outcome of the battle. Perhaps they had made an alliance with the Midianites which demanded their loyalty.

[8:14]  ³ tn Heb “from the men of Succoth.”

[8:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “wrote down for him the officials of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.”

[15:10]  ⁵ tn Or “come up against.”

[15:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Philistines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.