Judges 8:2

2 But he answered them, "I have not done as well as you! The small part you did was better than all that my people of Abiezer did.

Judges 8:2 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 8:2

And he said unto them
In a very mild and gentle manner, giving soft words, which turn away wrath:

what have I done in comparison of you?
he and his men, he signifies, had only blew trumpets, broke pitchers, and held torches; it was the Lord that did all, and set the Midianites one against another to slay each other; and in the pursuit as yet he had only picked up and slain some common soldiers, they had taken two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and had brought their heads in triumph to him:

is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of
Abiezer?
the family of Abiezer, of which Gideon was; the meaning is, that whereas he began the fight, which may be called the vintage, and they had finished it, which was like gleaning; yet what they did last was much preferable to what was done by him at first; or the princes of Midian, which they had taken in the pursuit, and was like gleaning after a vintage, were equal, yea, superior to all the camp of Midian, or that part of it that had fallen into his hands. The Targum is,

``are not the weak of the house of Ephraim better than the strong of the house of Abiezer?''

Judges 8:2 In-Context

1 The men of Ephraim asked Gideon, "Why did you treat us this way? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight against Midian?" They argued angrily with Gideon.

2 But he answered them, "I have not done as well as you! The small part you did was better than all that my people of Abiezer did.

3 God let you capture Oreb and Zeeb, the princes of Midian. How can I compare what I did with what you did?" When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon's answer, they were not as angry anymore.

4 When Gideon and his three hundred men came to the Jordan River, they were tired, but they chased the enemy across to the other side.

5 Gideon said to the men of Succoth, "Please give my soldiers some bread because they are very tired. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."