Judges 8:17

Jdg 8:17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

Ver. 17. And he beat down the tower of Penuel.] Which Jeroboam rebuilt and made it a garrison. {1Ki 12:25}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(17) Beat down the tower.—The importance of the place led to its re-fortification by Jeroboam (1Ki_12:25).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17. Gideon’s revenge strikes us as vindictive. In return for some jeering words he treated these towns, which no doubt contained many of his own countrymen, with a barbarity which is altogether absent from his execution of the Midianite kings, who had murdered his brothers and plundered his home. We must allow for the rough and passionate temper of the age, and for the exasperating lack of patriotism in the two towns; cf. Jdg_5:23.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And he beat down the tower of Penuel,.... As he threatened he would, Jdg 8:9 whether this was before or after he had chastised the elders of Succoth, is not clear; one would think by the course he steered going from Succoth to Penuel, as he went, he should come to Penuel first at his return; however, he demolished their tower in which they trusted:

and slew the men of the city; perhaps they might, as Kimchi conjectures, resist when he went about to beat down their tower; on which a fray might ensue, in which they were slain; or they might upon his approach, sensible of the offence they had given him, fly to their tower for safety, and were killed in it when that was beaten down about them. In what manner this was done is not said; no doubt they had instruments in those days for demolishing such edifices.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The men of the city - Perhaps the rulers; who, it is likely, had possession of the tower or citadel, and so could tyrannize over the people. Gideon killed the great men, and beat down their towers, but did not injure the inhabitants.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

17. Tower of Penuel — Penuel seems to have been an important stronghold commanding the ordinary route of travel to the far East; hence this tower, which may have served the double purpose of a watchtower and a fortress.

Slew the men — The men of Penuel seem to have heard of Gideon’s dealing with the elders of Succoth, and had the folly to resist him. Hence their punishment with death, while the men of Succoth were only scourged. Some have thought the punishment of the men of Penuel and Succoth was much greater than the offence. But, according to the theocratic spirit of that age, their offence could only be construed as treachery of heart and open contempt towards a divinely chosen judge and conqueror, and, by consequence, contempt of Jehovah himself, who was leading Israel on to victory; and in the Hebrew mind no punishment was too severe for such a crime against Jehovah and his people.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He slew the men of the city. This makes it probable that the threshing of the men of Succoth was a capital punishment, as there is no reason why the men of Penuel should be more severely punished than the men of Succoth.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Slew the men of the city - Not all of them; probably those only who had affronted him.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.