What does Judges 8:15 mean?
This incident proves the momentous change in Gideon. He has gone from downplaying himself as the least of his father's household (Judges 6:15) to embracing a role as God's warrior and judge of Israel (Judges 8:10–13). Having defeated the Midianites in battle by God's power, he has now returned to an Israelite town where his soldiers were refused bread in a time of great need (Judges 8:4–9).Gideon captured a young man from the town, who made a list of the officials and elders in Succoth. Now Gideon calls those leaders out and reminds them what their representative said when he came looking for help (Judges 8:6). At the time, the people of Succoth told Gideon they would only help if they had nothing to fear from their enemies.
As promised, Gideon presents the two kings he had been seeking to defeat. He has captured both Zebah and Zalmunna, alive, and routed the remains of their army. Gideon wants the men of Succoth to understand that in choosing submission to kings of Midian, rather than support for fellow Israelites, they have made a grave mistake. They have been faithless to God and their own countrymen. Gideon will make them pay—as the following verse puts it, he will "[teach] them a lesson" (Judges 8:16).