Gideon and his army pursued the Midianites, intending to capture the two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. The following account reveals that the two kings felt safe where they had sought refuge.
Judges 8
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of the entire camp of the people of the east. The slain were one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword.
11 Then Gideon went up by the Way of those who dwell in tents, east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he struck the unsuspecting camp.
12 Then Zebah and Zalmunna fled; He pursued them and seized the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and made the whole camp tremble.
13 Now Gideon the son of Joash was returning from battle at the ascent of Cheresh.
safe
Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor. This is usually translated as foundation or as entrenched. These meanings are not far apart. Perhaps the Midianite kings had actually entrenched themselves at that location. Verse 11 says that they were “unsuspecting,” a word that is elsewhere translated as “safe” or “unconcerned.”
the victory
One hundred and twenty thousand fighting men had already fallen on the Midianite side, but a considerable army of fifteen thousand remained. It is Gideon who, with his army of 300 men (8:4), pursues the Midianites and engages them in battle and wins. This time, the story doesn’t say how it happened. We must make do with the simple statement: and he defeated the camp.
Second Coming
The victory is complete, and the two kings are captured. Gideon returns from battle at the rising of Cheres. Cheres means sun, and that is why some translations say Gideon returned “before the rising of the sun” (see King James Version). It is a depiction of the Second Coming of Christ, when “the sun of righteousness” will rise (Malachi 4:2) and the day of YAHWEH will dawn.