שופטים, פרק ח׳, פסוק י״ט

Gideon confronts the captive kings, revealing a deeply personal stake in the conflict. He uncovers his direct relationship to the victims they had previously killed, emphasizing that these men were his brothers, not his sons. These were completely innocent individuals who had not taken part in any rebellion, yet they were put to death for no reason [מלבי״ם].

Presenting a clear condition, Gideon explains that if the kings had spared his brothers' lives, he would have spared theirs, refusing to execute them without a fair and just trial [מלבי״ם]. However, because the kings actually murdered his brothers—a fact they openly admitted—the situation shifts entirely. The confrontation becomes a matter of personal revenge, which ultimately seals their fate and leads to their execution [ביאור שטיינזלץ].