8:16a Then he took the elders of the city,

So he seized the elders of the town
-or-
Then he took the elders of Sukkoth.

8:16b and using the thorns and briers of the wilderness,

and he used thorns from the desert to whip them
-or-
He whipped them with thorns and sharp branches from the wilderness

8:16c he disciplined the men of Succoth.

because he wanted to show them that they should obey him.
-or-
to punish them.

8:16a-c (reordered)

Gideon whipped the elders of the town of Sukkoth with thorns and sharp sticks from the desert. This was to punish them because they refused to help him.

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