1ENTONCES los hombres de Efraim le dijeron a Gedeón: ¿Qué es esto que has hecho con nosotros, de no llamarnos cuando fuiste a campaña contra Madián? Y le regañaron con aspereza. 2Mas él les dijo: ¿Pues qué he hecho yo en comparación de vosotros? ¿Acaso no son mejores las rebuscas de Efraim que la vendimia de Abiezer? 3En mano de vosotros Dios ha entregado a los príncipes de Madián, Oreb y Zeeb; ¿qué pues he podido hacer yo en comparación de vosotros? Entonces templóse su ira contra él, cuando dijo esto. 4¶Entretanto Gedeón había llegado al Jordán, y lo había pasado, él y los trescientos hombres que tenía consigo; cansados, pero siguiendo el alcance de los fugitivos. 5Y dijo a los hombres de Sucot: Dadme, os ruego, panes para la gente que me sigue, porque están cansados, y estoy persiguiendo a Zeba y Zalmuna, reyes de Madián. 6Pero los principales de Sucot le contestaron: ¿Acaso los puños de Zeba y Zalmuna están ya en tu mano, para que demos pan a tu tropa? 7A lo que repuso Gedeón: Por tanto cuando entregare Jehová a Zeba y a Zalmuna en mi mano, trillaré vuestras carnes con espinos y abrojos del desierto. 8Subió pues de allí a Penuel, y a los de ella habló de la misma manera: mas los hombres de Penuel le respondieron del mismo modo que los hombres de Sucot. 9Por lo cual habló a los hombres de Penuel también, diciendo: Cuando yo volviere en paz, derribaré esta torre. 10¶Mas Zeba y Zalmuna estaban en Carcor, y su ejército con ellos, como quince mil hombres, todos los que quedaron de todo aquel ejército de los hijos de Oriente; porque cayeron ciento veinte mil hombres que sacaban espada. 11Subió pues Gedeón por la vía de los que habitan en tiendas, al oriente de Noba y Jogbea, e hirió al campamento; porque el campamento estaba sin recelo. 12Y huyeron Zeba y Zalmuna: mas él, siguiendo en su alcance, prendió a los dos reyes de Madián, Zeba y Zalmuna; pues había aterrado a todo el campamento. 13¶En seguida Gedeón hijo de Joás volvió de aquella batalla, antes de levantarse el sol. 14Y prendió a un mozo de los hombres de Sucot, y le pidió informes; el cual le dió por escrito los nombres de los principales de Sucot, y los ancianos de ella, setenta y siete personas. 15Llegando pues Gedeón a los hombres de Sucot, les dijo: ¡He ahí a Zeba y Zalmuna! de quienes me zaheristeis, diciendo: ¿Acaso los puños de Zeba y Zalmuna están ya en tu mano, para que demos pan a tus hombres cansados? 16Tomó entonces a los ancianos de la ciudad, y espinos y abrojos del desierto, y con éstos enseñó a los hombres de Sucot: 17derribó también la torre de Penuel, y mató a los hombres de la ciudad. 18¶Dijo entonces Gedeón a Zeba y a Zalmuna: ¿Qué manera de hombres eran aquellos que matasteis en Tabor? Y contestaron: Como tú, así eran ellos; cada uno semejaba los hijos de un rey. 19Y él respondió: ¡Mis hermanos eran, los hijos de mi misma madre! ¡Vive Jehová, que si les hubierais guardado la vida, no os matara yo! 20Luego dijo a Jeter su primogénito: ¡Levántate, mátalos! Pero el muchacho no sacó la espada; pues tuvo temor, porque era aún muchacho. 21Entonces dijeron Zeba y Zalmuna: Levántate tú, y arrójate sobre nosotros; porque como es el hombre, así es su fuerza. Levantóse pues Gedeón, y mató a Zeba y a Zalmuna; y tomó las media-lunas que traían al cuello de sus camellos. 22¶Entonces los hombres de Israel dijeron a Gedeón: Reina sobre nosotros, así tú, como tu hijo, y el hijo de tu hijo; porque nos has salvado de mano de Madián. 23Pero Gedeón les respondió: No reinaré yo sobre vosotros, ni reinará mi hijo sobre vosotros: Jehová reinará sobre vosotros. 24Les dijo empero Gedeón: Voy a haceros una petición, y es que me deis cada cual un zarcillo de su despojo; (pues los vencidos traían zarcillos de oro por ser Ismaelitas.) 25Y ellos contestaron: De muy buena gana te lo daremos. Tendieron pues un manto, y echaron allí cada cual un zarcillo de su despojo. 26Y fué el peso de los zarcillos de oro que él había pedido, mil setecientos siclos de oro; sin contar las media-lunas, y los pendientes, y los vestidos de púrpura que había sobre los reyes de Madián: y sin contar los collares que tenían al cuello de sus camellos. 27Y de ello hizo Gedeón un efod, y lo puso en su ciudad, en Ofra: y todo Israel idolatraba, acudiendo allí, tras de ese efod: lo cual vino a ser causa de ruina a Gedeón y a su casa. 28Así fué humillado Madián delante de los hijos de Israel, y no volvió más a levantar cabeza. Y tuvo la tierra descanso cuarenta años en los días de Gedeón. 29¶Y Jerobaal hijo de Joás fué y habitó en su propia casa. 30Y tuvo Gedeón setenta hijos, salidos de sus lomos; porque tenía muchas mujeres. 31Y también su concubina, que estaba en Siquem, le parió un hijo, y él le puso por nombre Abimelec. 32Y murió Gedeón hijo de Joás en buena vejez, y fué enterrado en la sepultura de Joás su padre, en Ofra de los Abiezeritas. 33¶Mas aconteció, luego que hubo muerto Gedeón, que tornaron los hijos de Israel y fornicaron tras los Baales; pues pusieron a Baal-berit por dios suyo; 34y no se acordaron los hijos de Israel de Jehová su Dios, el cual los había librado de mano de todos sus enemigos de al rededor; 35ni tampoco usaron de agradecimiento para con la casa de Jerobaal, es decir, de Gedeón, conforme a todos los beneficios que él había hecho a Israel.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE EPHRAIMITES OFFENDED, BUT PACIFIED. (
Judg 8:1-
Judg 8:9)
the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus?--Where this complaint was made, whether before or after the crossing of the Jordan, cannot be determined. By the overthrow of the national enemy, the Ephraimites were benefited as largely as any of the other neighboring tribes. But, piqued at not having been sharers in the glory of the victory, their leading men could not repress their wounded pride; and the occasion only served to bring out an old and deep-seated feeling of jealous rivalry that subsisted between the tribes (
Isa 9:21). The discontent was groundless, for Gideon acted according to divine directions. Besides, as their tribe was conterminous with that of Gideon, they might, had they been really fired with the flame of patriotic zeal, have volunteered their services in a movement against the common enemy.
2 he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you?--His mild and truly modest answer breathes the spirit of a great as well as good man, who was calm, collected, and self-possessed in the midst of most exciting scenes. It succeeded in throwing oil on the troubled waters (
Pro 16:1), and no wonder, for in the height of generous self-denial, it ascribes to his querulous brethren a greater share of merit and glory than belonged to himself (
1Cor 13:4;
Phil 2:3).
4 Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over--much exhausted, but eager to continue the pursuit till the victory was consummated.
5 he said unto the men of Succoth--that is, a place of tents or booths. The name seems to have been applied to the whole part of the Jordan valley on the west, as well as on the east side of the river, all belonging to the tribe of Gad (compare
Gen 33:17;
1Kgs 7:46; with
Josh 13:27). Being engaged in the common cause of all Israel, he had a right to expect support and encouragement from his countrymen everywhere.
6 the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand--an insolent as well as a time-serving reply. It was insolent because it implied a bitter taunt that Gideon was counting with confidence on a victory which they believed he would not gain; and it was time-serving, because living in the near neighborhood of the Midianite sheiks, they dreaded the future vengeance of those roving chiefs. This contumelious manner of acting was heartless and disgraceful in people who were of Israelitish blood.
7 I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers--a cruel torture, to which captives were often subjected in ancient times, by having thorns and briers placed on their naked bodies and pressed down by sledges, or heavy implements of husbandry being dragged over them.
8 he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise--a neighboring city, situated also in the territory of Gad, near the Jabbok, and honored with this name by Jacob (
Gen 32:30-
Gen 32:31).
9 he spake . . ., When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower--Intent on the pursuit, and afraid of losing time, he postponed the merited vengeance till his return. His confident anticipation of a triumphant return evinces the strength of his faith; and his specific threat was probably provoked by some proud and presumptuous boast, that in their lofty watchtower the Penuelites would set him at defiance.
10 ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA TAKEN. (Jdg. 8:10-27)
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor--a town on the eastern confines of Gad. The wreck of the Midianite army halted there.
11 Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east--He tracked the fugitives across the mountain range of Gilead to the northeast of the Jabbok, and there came upon them unexpectedly while they were resting secure among their own nomadic tribes. Jogbehah is supposed to be Ramoth-gilead; and, therefore, the Midianites must have found refuge at or near Abela, "Abel-cheramim," "the plain of the vineyards."
12 when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them--A third conflict took place. His arrival at their last quarters, which was by an unwonted path, took the fugitives by surprise, and the conquest of the Midianite horde was there completed.
13 Gideon returned from battle before the sun was up--He seems to have returned by a nearer route to Succoth, for what is rendered in our version "before the sun was up," means "the heights of Heres, the sun-hills."
14 he described--wrote the names of the seventy princes or elders. It was from them he had received so inhospitable a treatment.
16 he took . . . the thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth--By refusing his soldiers refreshment, they had committed a public crime, as well as an act of inhumanity, and were subjected to a horrible punishment, which the great abundance and remarkable size of the thorn bushes, together with the thinness of clothing in the East, has probably suggested.
18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor?--This was one of the countless atrocities which the Midianite chiefs had perpetrated during their seven years' lawless occupancy. It is noticed now for the first time when their fate was about to be determined.
each one resembled the children of a king--An Orientalism for great beauty, majesty of appearance, uncommon strength, and grandeur of form.
19 They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother--That is, uterine brothers; but, in all countries where polygamy prevails, "the son of my mother" implies a closeness of relationship and a warmth of affection never awakened by the looser term, "brother."
20 he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and slay them--The nearest of kin was the blood-avenger; but a magistrate might order any one to do the work of the executioner; and the person selected was always of a rank equal or proportioned to that of the party doomed to suffer (
1Kgs 2:29). Gideon intended, then, by the order to Jether, to put an honor on his son, by employing him to slay two enemies of his country; and on the youth declining, he performed the bloody deed himself.
22 the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us . . . Gideon said unto them, the Lord shall rule over you--Their unbounded admiration and gratitude prompted them, in the enthusiasm of the moment, to raise their deliverer to a throne, and to establish a royal dynasty in his house. But Gideon knew too well, and revered too piously the principles of the theocracy, to entertain the proposal for a moment. Personal and family ambition was cheerfully sacrificed to a sense of duty, and every worldly motive was kept in check by a supreme regard to the divine honor. He would willingly act as judge, but the Lord alone was King of Israel.
24 Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you--This was the contribution of an earring (singular). As the ancient Arabians (Ishmaelites and Midianites being synonymous terms,
Gen 37:25,
Gen 37:28) were gorgeously adorned with barbaric pearl and gold, an immense amount of such valuable booty had fallen into the hands of the Israelitish soldiers. The contribution was liberally made, and the quantity of gold given to him is estimated at Ł3113 sterling.
26 ornaments--crescent-like plates of gold suspended from the necks, or placed on the breasts of the camels.
collars--rather, "earrings," or drops of gold or pearl.
purple--a royal color. The ancient, as well as modern Arabs, adorned the necks, breasts, and legs, of their riding animals with sumptuous housing.
27 Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, . . . Ophrah--That no idolatrous use was in view, nor any divisive course from Shiloh contemplated, is manifest from
Judg 8:33. Gideon proposed, with the gold he received, to make an ephod for his use only as a civil magistrate or ruler, as David did (
1Chr 15:27), and a magnificent pectoral or breastplate also. It would seem, from the history, that he was not blamable in making this ephod, as a civil robe or ornament merely, but that it afterward became an object to which religious ideas were attached; whereby it proved a snare, and consequently an evil, by perversion, to Gideon and his house [TAYLOR, Fragments].
28 MIDIAN SUBDUED. (
Judg 8:28)
Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel--This invasion of the Arab hordes into Canaan was as alarming and desolating as the irruption of the Huns into Europe. It was the severest scourge ever inflicted upon Israel; and both it and the deliverance under Gideon lived for centuries in the minds of the people (
Ps 83:11).