Discovery BoxJudges 9:29 
Context9:29 If only these men 1 were under my command, 2 I would get rid of Abimelech!” He challenged Abimelech, 3 “Muster 4 your army and come out for battle!” 5
Judges 8:15
Context8:15 He approached the men of Succoth and said, “Look what I have! 6 Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me, saying, ‘You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your exhausted men?’” 7
1 tn Heb “people.”
2 tn Heb “in my hand.”
sn If only these men were under my command. One might assume from v. 26b that the men were already at his disposal, but perhaps that was not one of the terms of the agreement. Another possibility is that v. 26 is a general summary statement, with vv. 27-29 then detailing how the alliance with Gaal came about.
3 tn Heb “said to Abimelech.” On the other hand, the preposition ל (lamed) prefixed to the proper name may be vocative (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 178). If so, one could translate, “He boasted, ‘Abimelech…’”
4 tn Heb “Make numerous.”
5 tn The words “for battle” are interpretive.
6 tn Heb “Look!” The words “what I have” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
7 tn Heb “Are the palms of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give to your exhausted men bread?”
sn Gideon changes their actual statement (see v. 6) by saying exhausted men rather than “army.” In this way he emphasizes the crisis his men were facing and highlights the insensitivity of the men of Succoth.
