Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna: Then renders the Hebrew waw conjunction. The narrator gives no indication if this event happened immediately after Gideon’s punishment of the people in Penuel or sometime later. If a new paragraph is begun here, translators can replace the pronoun he with “Gideon” (Good News Translation). Said may be rendered “asked” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
Where are the men whom you slew at Tabor?: This could be a real question or a rhetorical one. If it is the latter, Gideon is reproaching the kings for killing his troops. Instead of asking Where the men are, Revised English Bible says “What sort of men did you kill in Tabor?” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is similar with “Those men you killed at Tabor, what were they like?” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible). These versions change the Hebrew interrogative word at the beginning of the question for this reading, so that it better matches the answer of the Midianite kings. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, so translating Where remains a valid option. The men whom you slew refers to Israelite troops killed by the Midianite army. Slew is an old-fashioned English word that is better rendered “killed” (New Revised Standard Version). Tabor was a mountain located on the northern side of Jezreel Valley (see verse 4.6). Up till now, the events described in the Gideon story have occurred much further south. Gideon may be referring to an incident that has not yet been told. This question may be rendered “What about [or, How about] the men you killed at Mount Tabor?”
They answered is literally “And they said.” Both verbs are acceptable here.
As you are, so were they, every one of them is literally “As you, as them, one.” This brief reply resembles a proverb. The pronoun you refers to Gideon, and they to the men who were killed. Revised Standard Version takes the Hebrew word for “one” to mean every one of them, though other interpretations are possible. This clause could mean they all look the same, as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which says “They looked just like you.” New American Bible is similar with “They all resembled you,” and so is Contemporary English Version with “They were a lot like you.” Translators may be able to imitate the style here, for example, “As you, so they.” Otherwise, translators may say “They were just like you.”
They resembled the sons of a king is literally “like the form of the sons of the king.” Obviously the Midianite kings are trying to flatter Gideon, who is on the point of executing them. In the next verse Gideon reveals that those who resembled the sons of a king were, in fact, his own brothers. Translators should follow the style of the narrator and keep this secret until Gideon reveals it. Ironically at the time these events are happening, Israel had no king (verse 18.1). For king see the comments on verse 1.7. Presumably this clause refers not only to the physical likeness of princes but also to their general conduct and bearing. It may be rendered “They were like princes” or “They resembled royalty.”
Translation models for this verse are:
• Later Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What about the men you killed at Mount Tabor?”
And they answered “As you are, so were they. They looked like the sons of a king.”
• Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “The men you killed at the mountain of Tabor, what were they like?”
And they replied, “Just like you! They were like royalty.”
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .