Judges 8:29-35

The Death of Gideon

29 Jerub-Baal son of Joash lived in his own house.

30 Now Gideon had seventy sons, {his own offspring}, for he had many wives.

31 His concubine who [was] in Shechem also bore for him a son, and {he named him} Abimelech.

32 And Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age, and he was buried in the tomb of Jehoash his father, in Ophrah [of] the Abiezrites.

33 And it happened, as soon as Gideon died, the {Israelites} returned and prostituted [themselves] after the Baals, and they made for themselves Baal-Berith as god.

34 The {Israelites} did not remember Yahweh their God, who had delivered them from the hand of their enemies from all around,

35 nor did they show favor to the house of Jerub-Baal ([that is], Gideon) in accordance with all the good that he did for Israel.

Judges 8:29-35 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "from his own loins"
• [b]. Literally "he set his name"
• [c]. Hebrew "Abiezrite"
• [d]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [e]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [f]. Or "loyalty"