Judges 8:23

23 But Gideon told them, "The Lord will be your ruler. I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you."

Judges 8:23 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 8:23

And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you
Not that he declined the government of them as a judge, to which he was raised of God, but as a king, for which he had no authority and call from God; the choice of a king belonging to him, and not to the people:

neither shall my son rule over you;
which Abarbinel thinks he spake as a prophet, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; for after his death neither Jether his eldest son, nor any of the rest of his legitimate sons, ruled over them; for they were all slain by Abimelech, the son of his concubine, who was made king:

the Lord shall rule over you;
as he did; their government was a theocracy, which they would have changed, but Gideon would not agree to it.

Judges 8:23 In-Context

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, "Come on. Kill us yourself. As the saying goes, 'It takes a man to do a man's job.'" So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna and took the decorations off their camels' necks.

22 The people of Israel said to Gideon, "You saved us from the Midianites. Now, we want you and your son and your grandson to rule over us."

23 But Gideon told them, "The Lord will be your ruler. I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you."

24 He said, "I want you to do this one thing for me. I want each of you to give me a gold earring from the things you took in the fighting." (The Ishmaelitesn wore gold earrings.)

25 They said, "We will gladly give you what you want." So they spread out a coat, and everyone threw down an earring from what he had taken.