Judges 8:25

25 The men of Israel answered, "Yes, we'll give them to you." So they spread out a coat. Each man took the earrings from his loot and dropped them on it.

Judges 8:25 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 8:25

And they answered, we will willingly give them
Or, "in giving we will give" ^F4; give them with all their hearts, most freely and cheerfully:

and they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings
of his prey;
every man one, which would amount to no more than three hundred; though perhaps those who joined in the pursuit might take many more, or otherwise the weight of them would not amount to what in the next verse they are said to weigh.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Ntn Nwtn) "dando dabimus", Pagninus, Montanus.

Judges 8:25 In-Context

23 Gideon replied, "I will not rule you nor will my son. The LORD will rule you."

24 Then Gideon said to them, "Do me a favor. Each of you give me the earrings from your loot." (Their enemies, the Ishmaelites, wore gold earrings.)

25 The men of Israel answered, "Yes, we'll give them to you." So they spread out a coat. Each man took the earrings from his loot and dropped them on it.

26 The gold earrings Gideon had asked for weighed 40 pounds. This did not include the half-moon ornaments, the earrings, the purple clothes worn by the kings of Midian, and the chains from their camels' necks.

27 Then Gideon used the gold to make an idol and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. All Israel chased after it there as though it were a prostitute. It became a trap for Gideon and his family.