There is an important step left out of the narration here, namely that Gideon and his men arrived at the town of Succoth. Good News Translation tries to make the transition more natural by beginning with “When they arrived at Sukkoth….” Contemporary English Version is similar with “The town of Succoth was nearby, so he went there….” In many languages it will be necessary to add this transition material. The previous verse mentions that Gideon and his men were hungry, so the logical thing is for them to look for food.

So he said to the men of Succoth: So renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction, since Gideon and his men are hungry. Depending on the transition, the conjunction may be omitted (so New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The pronoun he refers to Gideon, which may be made explicit. The men of Succoth refers to the inhabitants of Succoth, not just its males. The town of Succoth was on the east side of the Jordan River, probably near the mouth of the Jabbok River, which flows into the Jordan. The Hebrew name Succoth means “huts” or “shelters,” as in the Festival of Shelters (Lev 23.34). The people living in this town were presumably from the tribe of Gad.

Pray, give loaves of bread to the people who follow me: Gideon politely asks for food from the people of this town. Pray renders the Hebrew politeness marker naʾ, which may be translated “Please” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “I beg you” (see comments on verse 1.24). Loaves does not render the same Hebrew word translated “cakes” in verse 7.13. This word is plural, so it certainly refers to several loaves. However, the Hebrew word for bread (lechem) can also refer to any kind of food, so Contemporary English Version renders loaves of bread as “some food.” The people who follow me is literally “the people who [are] at my feet.” People renders the key Hebrew word (ʿam) often used in this book to refer to the Israelites in general (see verse 2.4), but in this context Gideon is obviously referring to his soldiers, so Contemporary English Version says “my troops.”

For they are faint, and I am pursuing … repeats in dialogue form two keywords that occur in the narrative in verse 8.4 (see comments there). This is typical Hebrew style. For renders the Hebrew particle ki, which clearly introduces a reason here. We can say “because” or “since.”

And I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian: And is a good rendering of the Hebrew waw conjunction here, since Gideon is giving an additional reason for his request of food. In 8.4 the text says all of Gideon’s men were “pursuing” the Midianites. However, here Gideon says specifically and emphatically I am pursuing…. Gideon was probably a known figure in the region. With the emphatic I, Gideon is making a personal request, based on his status in the area. There may also be a note of pride here, because Gideon claims that his troops are exhausted, but he, Gideon, is still pursuing the enemy. It is also possible that Gideon meant to leave his men there, while he continued on. Though it is possible to change the singular I into a collective “we” (Contemporary English Version), it is better to stay closer to the pronoun in the original text. Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian probably represent the last Midianite threat. The names Zebah and Zalmunna mean “sacrifice” and “protection is refused” respectively. Translators can choose whether to transliterate these names or render their meaning. Contemporary English Version, which often translates names, does not do so here. Most commentators believe that there are wordplays on these unusual names. For the Hebrew word rendered kings (melek), see the comments on verse 1.7. There may be some irony here since Gideon had told the Ephraimites that they had accomplished a great deed by killing “the princes of Midian” (verse 8.2-3). Obviously complete victory has not yet been achieved, since the two top leaders, the kings of Midian, are still loose in the territory. Many languages may prefer to change the word order in this clause by saying “I am still trying to capture the [last] kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• Having arrived in Succoth, Gideon said to the men of the town, “Please give my warriors some food. They are really tired, and I am still pursuing the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna.”

• When they arrived in the town of Succoth, Gideon said to the people there, “Please give my men and me some bread. They are completely exhausted, but I have to keep pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the Midianite kings.”

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 .