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Judges 8:22
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20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
21 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and akilled Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.  

Gideon’s Ephod

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, a“Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have bdelivered us from the hand of Midian.”  
23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; athe Lord shall rule over you.”  
24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to1 make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, abecause they were Ishmaelites.  
25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.
26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks.
27 Then Gideon amade it into an ephod and set it up in his city, bOphrah. And all Israel cplayed the harlot with it there. It became da snare to Gideon and to his house.  
28 Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. aAnd the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.  

Death of Gideon

29 Then aJerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.  
30 Gideon had aseventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives.  
31 aAnd his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.  
32 Now Gideon the son of Joash died aat a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, bin Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  
33 So it was, aas soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again bplayed the harlot with the Baals, cand made Baal-Berith their god.  
34 Thus the children of Israel adid not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side;  
35 anor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel. 
Commentaries:
Matthew Henry
<< Judges 8:21   Judges 8:23 >>


Judges 8:1-35

Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites. (1-3) Succoth and Penuel refuse to relieve Gideon. (4-12) Succoth and Penuel punished. (13-17) Gideon avenges his brethren. (18-21) Gideon declines the government, but given occasion for idolatry. (22-28) Gideon's death, Israel's ingratitude. (29-35)

Verses 1-3 Those who will not attempt or venture any thing in the cause of God, will be the most ready to censure and quarrel with such as are of a more zealous and enterprising spirit. And those who are the most backward to difficult services, will be the most angry not to have the credit of them. Gideon stands here as a great example of self-denial; and shows us that envy is best removed by humility. The Ephraimites had given vent to their passion in very wrong freedom of speech, a certain sign of a weak cause: reason runs low when chiding flies high.

Verses 4-12 Gideon's men were faint, yet pursuing; fatigued with what they had done, yet eager to do more against their enemies. It is many a time the true Christian's case, fainting, and yet pursuing. The world knows but little of the persevering and successful struggle the real believer maintains with his sinful heart. But he betakes himself to that Divine strength, in the faith of which he began his conflict, and by the supply of which alone he can finish it in triumph.

Verses 13-17 The active servants of the Lord meet with more dangerous opposition from false professors than from open enemies; but they must not care for the behaviour of those who are Israelites in name, but Midianites in heart. They must pursue the enemies of their souls, and of the cause of God, though they are ready to faint through inward conflicts and outward hardships. And they shall be enabled to persevere. The less men help, and the more they seek to hinder, the more will the Lord assist. Gideon's warning being slighted, the punishment was just. Many are taught with the briers and thorns of affliction, who would not learn otherwise.

Verses 18-21 The kings of Midian must be reckoned with. As they confessed themselves guilty of murder, Gideon acted as the avenger of blood, being the next of kin to the persons slain. Little did they think to have heard of this so long after; but murder seldom goes unpunished in this life. Sins long forgotten by man, must be accounted for to God. What poor consolation in death from the hope of suffering less pain, and of dying with less disgrace than some others! yet many are more anxious on these accounts, than concerning the future judgment, and what will follow.

Verses 22-28 Gideon refused the government the people offered him. No good man can be pleased with any honour done to himself, which belongs only to God. Gideon thought to keep up the remembrance of this victory by an ephod, made of the choicest of the spoils. But probably this ephod had, as usual, a teraphim annexed to it, and Gideon intended this for an oracle to be consulted. Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man. It became a snare to Gideon himself, and it proved the ruin of the family. How soon will ornaments which feed the lust of the eye, and form the pride of life, as well as tend to the indulgences of the flesh, bring shame on those who are fond of them!

Verses 29-35 As soon as Gideon was dead, who kept the people to the worship of the God of Israel, they found themselves under no restraint; then they went after Baalim, and showed no kindness to the family of Gideon. No wonder if those who forget their God, forget their friends. Yet conscious of our own ingratitude to the Lord, and observing that of mankind in general, we should learn to be patient under any unkind returns we meet with for our poor services, and resolve, after the Divine example, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.


 
<< Judges 8:21   Judges 8:23 >>

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