Judges 8
Judges 8 covers how Gideon achieves a complete victory over the Midianites and, in the process, addresses the conflict between the people of Israel and their leaders, as well as what follows in Gideon’s life. It is also connected to the overall flow of Judges, highlighting the response of the people of Israel after the ministry of the deliverer (judge), the temptation and mistakes of the judge, and the recurring weakness of human beings through these outcomes.
1verseThe men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you treated us this way, that you didn’t call us when you went to fight with Midian?” They rebuked him sharply.
2verseHe said to them, “What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
3verseGod has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that.
4verseGideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing.
5verseHe said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6verseThe princes of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”
7verseGideon said, “Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”
8verseHe went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.
9verseHe spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”
10verseNow Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.
11verseGideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army; for the army felt secure.
12verseZebah and Zalmunna fled and he pursued them. He took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and confused all the army.
13verseGideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.
14verseHe caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him; and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and its elders, seventy-seven men.
15verseHe came to the men of Succoth, and said, “See Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’”
16verseHe took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
17verseHe broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.
18verseThen he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “They were like you. They all resembled the children of a king.”
19verseHe said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”
20verseHe said to Jether his firstborn, “Get up and kill them!” But the youth didn’t draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.
21verseThen Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.
22verseThen the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you, your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”
23verseGideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. The LORD shall rule over you.”
24verseGideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
25verseThey answered, “We will willingly give them.” They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his plunder into it.
26verseThe weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, in addition to the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their camels’ necks.
27verseGideon made an ephod out of it, and put it in Ophrah, his city. Then all Israel played the prostitute with it there; and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
28verseSo Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
29verseJerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.
30verseGideon had seventy sons conceived from his body, for he had many wives.
31verseHis concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.
32verseGideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33verseAs soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.
34verseThe children of Israel didn’t remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;
35verseneither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.
Conflict with the Ephraimites (8:1-3)
While Gideon is pursuing the Midianites, the Ephraimites express dissatisfaction that they were involved in the battle too late. Gideon calms them with gentleness and wisdom to prevent further discord. This section suggests the importance of communication within a community when carrying out God’s work.
Gideon’s pursuit and victory (8:4-21)
Even though Gideon and his troops are exhausted, they pursue the two Midian kings (Zebah and Zalmunna) to the very end, catch them, and take them captive. In the process, the people of the towns of Succoth and Penuel are judged because they do not help Gideon. This episode shows the contrast between faithfulness and unbelief, and how important the resolve of a judge is.
Gideon’s temptation and mistake (8:22-27)
The people of Israel ask Gideon to become king, but he refuses to be king and makes it clear that only God is king of Israel. However, he takes a gold earring from the plunder and makes an ephod, which later turns into an idol and becomes a stumbling block for Israel. This is a scene that warns how even a pure heart toward God can be corrupted into idolatry.
The end of Gideon’s life and the people’s betrayal (8:28-35)
Although Gideon peacefully completes his life, after his death Israel forgets God and begins to worship idols again. It shows the spiritual crisis that arises from human forgetfulness and the repeating cycle of sin, as well as the crisis caused by the absence of a leader.
Meditation Points
- When we accomplish God’s work, let’s think about why communication and cooperation within the community are so important.
- In our journey of faith, let’s reflect on how important it is to preserve the purity of our faith even after victory or success.
- Not only the role of a leader, but also whether each person’s faith has been focused on God for how long—let’s look back on that.
Apply It to Me
- Like Gideon, in the position where I lead, let’s check whether I am wisely resolving conflicts.
- Let’s examine whether small shoots of idols are growing in my life, or whether something else has taken the place of God.
- No matter who the leader is or what the circumstances are, let’s make a decision today so that my faith will not be shaken and I can always stay focused on God.
