Judges 8:22-35

Gideon's Legacy

22 Then the Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you delivered us from the power of Midian."

23 But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you."

24 Then he said to them, "Let me make a request of you: Everyone give me an earring from his plunder." Now the enemy had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.

25 They said, "We agree to give them." So they spread out a mantle, and everyone threw an earring from his plunder on it.

26 The weight of the gold earrings he requested was about 43 pounds^[a] of gold, in addition to the crescent ornaments and ear pendants, the purple garments on the kings of Midian, and the chains on the necks of their camels.

27 Gideon made an ephod from all this and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. Then all Israel prostituted themselves with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.

28 So Midian was subdued before the Israelites, and they were no longer a threat.^[b] The land was peaceful 40 years during the days of Gideon.

29 Jerubbaal [(that is, Gideon)] son of Joash went back to live at his house.

30 Gideon had 70 sons, his own offspring, since he had many wives.

31 His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

32 Then Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 When Gideon died, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves with the Baals and made Baal-berith^[c] their god.

34 The Israelites did not remember the Lord their God who had delivered them from the power of the enemies around them.

35 They did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal ([that is,] Gideon) for all the good he had done for Israel.

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Judges 8:22-35 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 8

In this chapter we are told how Gideon pacified the Ephraimites, who complained because they were not sent unto to fight the Midianites, Jud 8:1-3 how he pursued the Midianites, until he took their two kings, and on his return chastised the men of Succoth and Penuel, because they refused to relieve his men with food as they were pursuing, Jud 8:4-17 how he slew the two kings of Midian, Jud 8:18-21 and after this conquest refused to take the government of Israel when offered him, Jud 8:22,23 how he requested of the Israelites the earrings they had taken from the Midianites, with which he in weakness made an ephod, which proved a snare to his house, Jud 8:24-27 how that the people were in peace forty years during his life, and that he had a numerous issue, and died in a good old age, Jud 8:28-32 but that after his death the Israelites fell into idolatry, and were ungrateful to his family, Jud 8:33-35.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit 1,700 shekels
[b]. Lit they no longer raised their head
[c]. Lit Baal of the Covenant, or Lord of the Covenant

Judges 8:22-35

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Gideon's Legacy

Judges 8:22-35 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 8

Footnotes 3