The officials of Succoth take one look at Gideon’s exhausted troop, pursuing on foot a much larger contingent of enemy warriors on camels, and they cannot help but be skeptical over Gideon’s chances of success. And if he does not succeed, Succoth would be among the first places for Midian to retaliate against, given how close they are to Midian.
6 And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”