1Then the men of EphraIm asked Gideon, ‘What are you doing? Why didn’t you didn’t call us when you went to fight against Midian?’ And they were very angry with him. 2But he replied, ‘What have I done in comparison to you? For, aren’t the leftovers of EphraIm better than the full harvest of AbiEzer? 3Why, Jehovah delivered the leaders of Midian (Oreb and Zeb) into your hands, and what did I do to compare with that?’ Well when he said that, they calmed down. 4Then Gideon went to the Jordan and crossed it by himself, for his three hundred men (who were very hungry) lagged behind. 5And he went to SocChoth and asked the men there, ‘Please give me some bread to feed these people who are following me, because they’re starting to get weak. For look, we’re in pursuit of Zebee and Salmana, the kings of Midian.’ 6But the leaders of SocChoth said, ‘Have you already captured Zebee and Salmana so that we should now feed your army?’ 7And Gideon said, ‘Okay then, but when Jehovah gives Zebee and Salmana into my hands, [I’m going to return] and tear your flesh with thorns in the BarKenim Desert.’ From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Succoth had. 9So Gideon told them, ‘When I return with peace, I’m going to tear down this fortification.’ 10Well, Zebee and Salmana were in CarCar with their army, but there were only about fifteen thousand left of their army of mercenaries remaining, for a hundred and twenty thousand of their soldiers had already been killed. 11Then Gideon traveled past the people who lived in tents east of NabAi and JegEbal, and he cut down and captured their army. 12But Zebee and Salmana fled, so he chased after them and caught the two kings of Midian, and he routed [the rest] of their army. 13Then, after Gideon (the son of JoAs) returned from the battle, 14he took a young man prisoner who lived in SocChoth and questioned him, and he had him write down the names of the leaders and elders of SocChoth… all seventy-seven men. 15Then Gideon went to the leaders of SocChoth and said, ‘See; here are Zebee and Salmana about whom you so rudely asked, Are Zebee and Salmana now in your hands, so that we should give your hungry men bread?’ 16Then he took the elders of that city [and dragged them through] the thorns of the BarKenim Desert, tearing them to pieces.. 17And from there he went and tore down the fortification of PhanuEl and killed all the men in that city. 18Then he asked Zebee and Salmana, ‘Who were those men that you killed in Tabor?’ And they replied, ‘Why, they looked like you… like the sons of a king.’ 19And Gideon said, ‘They were my brothers… the sons of my mother. So, as Jehovah lives, if you had left them alive I wouldn’t have to kill you.’ 20And he said to Jether (his firstborn), ‘Take them out and kill them,’ But the young man wouldn’t draw his sword, because he was young and afraid. 21Then Zebee and Salmana said, ‘If you’re a man, then why don’t you kill us?’ So, Gideon got up and killed Zebee and Salmana, and he took the round ornaments that were hung around the necks of their camels. 22Then the men of Israel [came to him] and said to Gideon, ‘My lord; become our ruler… you, your sons, and your son’s sons, for you’ve saved us from the hands of Midian.’ 23But Gideon replied, ‘I’m not going to rule over you, nor will my sons, for Jehovah must be your ruler.’ 24And Gideon added, ‘All I ask from you is one thing: I want each man to give me an earring from his loot.’ For, because they were IshMaElites, he knew they would have golden earrings. 25And they said, ‘Sure, we’ll give them to you.’ 33However, after Gideon died, the children of Israel turned back and had immoral relations with Baal Im, and they agreed that Baal would be their god. 34So, the children of Israel forgot Jehovah their God who had saved them from the hands of all those around them that were oppressing them. 35And they did not deal mercifully with the house of JeroBaal (Gideon), despite all the good things that he had done for 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).