שופטים, פרק ח׳, פסוק ו׳

During an exhausting pursuit of the Midianite kings, Gideon faces a surprising obstacle from his own people. The leaders of the city of Succoth refuse to provide basic sustenance to his weary fighters, revealing a deep-seated mix of fear, skepticism, and outright mockery toward a military campaign that is still undecided. When Gideon approaches the city's leadership, they present a united front, appointing a single spokesman to deliver their collective rejection [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

It is likely that Gideon initially asked the common citizens for food as a simple act of charity. When they turned him away, he appealed directly to the city's officials, demanding supplies based on their civic duty to support an active army. The officials, however, reject this demand, arguing that they have no obligation to support him until he actually secures a victory [מלבי״ם]. Their response is laced with heavy sarcasm. They question why Gideon is acting as a victorious savior when the Midianite kings are still roaming free. In their eyes, merely chasing the enemy requires no special bravery and certainly does not earn him the right to demand their provisions [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Beneath the mockery lies a cold, calculated political strategy born of existential fear. The leaders of Succoth refuse to take sides in a war whose outcome remains uncertain. They are terrified that if they supply Gideon's army and the Midianite kings survive, those very kings will return with their forces to destroy Succoth in a brutal act of revenge. They make it clear that they will only offer support once the enemy kings are captured and the threat is completely eradicated [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל].

This calculated refusal has a direct impact on how Gideon handles the aftermath of the war. Because the rejection in Succoth comes specifically from its leadership, Gideon later returns to punish only the officials and elders of the city. This stands in sharp contrast to the neighboring city of Penuel, where the entire population insulted him, resulting in a collective punishment for all its inhabitants [חומת אנך].