15. And he went to Succoth, and he said to them: "Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, over whom you rebuked me, saying: 'Perhaps the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna are in your hands, and for this reason, you request that we give bread to men who are languishing and weakened.' "
16. Therefore, he took the elders of the city, and, using the thorns and briers of the desert, he threshed them with these, and he cut the men of Succoth to pieces.
17. He also overturned the tower of Penuel, and he killed the men of the city.
18. And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men were those whom you killed at Tabor?" They responded, "They were like you, and one of them was like the son of a king."
19. He answered them: "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had preserved them, I would not kill you."
20. And he said to Jether, his firstborn son, "Rise up, and put them to death." But he did not draw his sword. For he was afraid, being still a boy.
21. And Zebah and Zalmunna said: "You should rise up and rush against us. For the strength of a man is in accord with his age." Gideon rose up, and he killed Zebah and Zalmunna. And he took the ornaments and studs, with which the necks of the royal camels are usually adorned.
22. And all the men of Israel said to Gideon: "You should rule over us, and your son, and your son's son. For you freed us from the hand of Midian."
23. And he said to them: "I will not rule over you. Neither shall my son rule over you. Instead, the Lord shall rule over you."
24. And he said to them: "I petition one request from you. Give me the earrings from your spoils." For the Ishmaelites were accustomed to wear gold earrings.
25. They responded, "We are very willing to give them." And spreading a cloak on the ground, they cast upon it the earrings from the spoils.
26. And the weight of the earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, aside from the ornaments, and necklaces, and purple garments, which the kings of Midian were accustomed to use, and aside from the gold chains on the camels.