Judges 8:1
Remember back in 6:34 the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon. He blew the trumpet and his people responded to the call. In addition, troops from Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali came to help. No messenger was sent to Ephraim. Apparently, the message to pursue the fleeing Midianites was their first knowledge of anything going on. The men of Ephraim did not like this and scolded Gideon for not taking counsel with them prior to any move. The phrase 'reprimanded him sharply' tells us that came at him incensed and angry and picked a fight with him. Strangely enough, they were brave enough to fight with Gideon but had not been brave enough to take a stand or lead a rebellion against the Midianites.
What was their issue? Maybe they didn't want to be left out of gaining territory once held by the Midianites. In addition, there was always plunder that everyone wanted a cut of. However, with Ephraim, they seemed to see themselves as policy makers of which others then enforced. They seemed to always want a more prominent place of leadership but never really displayed those qualities. The root of the dispute seems to be they were full of pride; this pride was bruised by Gideon's actions.
It had not occurred to Ephraim that God had not called them.
The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. ?
Oswald Chambers
Judges 8:2-3
Gideon could have really put them in their place since God had specifically called him and the Lord didn't specifically need the Ephraimites. However, Gideon humbled himself, honored them and complimented them. This response disarmed the Ephraimites. Was this weakness or wisdom?
- Wisdom?
A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
(NKJV; Proverbs 15:1; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
- Weakness?
This was nothing less than internal opposition in an impoverished nation that had been oppressed for seven years to the point of hiding in caves. Would there not have been greater wisdom in saying, "Get your eyes off yourself and be part of the nation." The Ephraim attitude was a sampling of what was wrong with the nation. Everyone was doing what they thought was right or what was good for them.
This may well be the first signs of a problem.
Gideon flattered the Ephraimites, placing them higher and more important than his own people. The gleaning of their vine was greater than the very best produced in Abiezer. How would you feel if you were Abiezerite who had been fighting alongside Gideon to free the nation? Would you not feel as though you were put down? As though your efforts were nothing of distinction? He gave glory to the Ephraimites, not explaining they were merely a mop up when 300 overcame thousands. In appeasing them in anger, he empowered them to do this over and over again. Would it not have been wise to explain to them what God had done through the three hundred. Ephraim, why didn't God call you to be among the three hundred? That was the question Gideon could have encouraged them to take before the Lord.
Was this a failure to properly deal with internal problems.
Judges 8:4-9
Gideon and his three hundred were still in pursuit of the Midianites. They crossed the Jordon and came to Succoth exhausted and hungry. This was in the tribal land of Gad, but the Midianite land was nearby. The request for food to fuel the army against the powerhouse Midian that held the residents of Succoth in fear was difficult. If the army failed, the Midianite response would be costly to their city and its people. Things would be even worse. However, Gideon was their chance for freedom.
It was common practice to cut off a hand of the enemies killed as a means of tallying and displaying the accomplishment. Succoth chose to play it safe; they chose to remain oppressed and live than to risk dying for liberty. Gideon delivered a promise to tear their flesh and punish them for this choice once he completed his pursuit.
It is noteworthy that Gideon told Succoth that 'I am pursuing' Zebah and Zalmunna. Had he lost sight of the fact that he was only mighty by the power of the Lord and acting within the Lord's will. It's strange how he was self-deprecating with the Ephraimites but acted with ferocity toward Succoth. Gideon appears to have forgotten that he was threshing in fear in the winepress when the Lord came to him. His people were living in fear. The people of Succoth had not been lead from fear to faith. Gideon certainly didn't go easily.
It's worth noting, that in chapter 7 the Lord spoke repeatedly to Gideon. However, after the Lord set every man's sword against his companion, the Lord had not spoken. The pursuit seems to have been started without the direction of the Lord. Gideon was not understanding of the plight of the people of Succoth and the leaders desire to protect them. He did not offer assurance and speak of God's call and the great miracle the Lord and performed. The Spirit of the Lord no longer seems to be upon Gideon. He is acting in the flesh.
It was just five more miles down the road that Gideon and his army came to Penuel. Gideon was given the same response. In fear and hopelessness, they were willing to remain oppressed and under rule of the Midianites to save their own flesh. As a leader under the call of God, Gideon did nothing to allay their fear. Instead, he responded with another threat; a promise to destroy their tower when his pursuit was complete. It's strange statement to say I'll return in peace and bring retribution against you. What purpose did this serve?
Judges 8:10-12
Karkor was probably not a specific place but an area. It means level ground and has a definite article. It is probable the Beqa basin, a broad flat depression 5 miles long by 2 miles wide. Zebah and Zalmunna came to the flat expanse. These Midianite kings still had 15,000 men, but that was what was left of the 135,000 they started with. Gideon took the 'road of the nomads, apparently flanking this army. They may have felt secure in the wide-open land thinking that they could see Gideon coming across the flat land. While they felt secure, Gideon attacked them.
We don't get the details of the battle. Gideon's three hundred attacked fifteen thousand and routed them. This defeat is the only indication that they were still working in the power and will of the Lord. Gideon pursued and captured the two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna.
Judges 8:13-17
Joash was Gideon's father but the name also means Jehovah or the hand of Jehovah. Its interesting that the he is identified as the son of his father here. One could say, Gideon the son of Jehovah returned from the battle; a battle that was beyond reason, against all odds, initiated in a hopeless situation. This was a time to glorify God for what He had done. A time to unite the people and put their eyes on Him.
Gideon came up from the basin and made his way back to Succoth. He captured a young man and forced him to give him the names of the leaders and elders. Writing down these names was not something everyone could do. He wasn't just any young man if he was able to write these down. It would have been normal for the elders of a small town to consist of the two eldest males from each household. Seventy-seven elders would represent a community of 200-250. Gideon arrived and displayed to these leaders the kings. He delivered on his threat. Some see this as whipping them severely with thorns and briers. Others believe this is the execution of the elders and the desecration of their remains with thorns and briers. The word 'taught' in NKJV has so many translations and senses it is hard to determine. The purpose appears to be teaching the men of Succoth by punishing the elders, which was most of the men. Gideon then went back down the road to Penuel and killed the men of the city and tore down their tower.
Gideon, who had once "threshed," wheat (Judg. 6:11), now "threshes," the leaders of Succoth … [with] thorns and briers (Judg. 8:7, 16). Gideon, who had once "torn down" the shrine of Baal at Ophrah (Judg. 6:25), now "tears down" the fortification tower of Penuel (Judg. 8:17).
[Webb, B. G. (2012). The Book of Judges (R. K. Harrison & R. L. Hubbard Jr., Eds.; p. 256). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.]
Killing the men of these two cities left the remaining men, all the women and children in a weak and vulnerable place in a nation void of leadership. We must consider that these two towns may have supported the Midianites in their oppression against Israel, thereby justifying the punishment. We just don't know. What we do see is that Gideon's life has become characterized by death and destruction. He is not building up, uniting and bringing hope; but dividing, killing and conquering.
Judges 8:18-21
The Midianites had impoverished the nation. The Israelites had been hiding in caves and trying to survive. While we aren't told the details, people of Tabor were apparently killed. Some of these were relatives of Gideon. These two kings don't deny killing the people there but instead bring flattery to them and to Gideon who holds their fate. In verse 19 Gideon confirms he is acting by blood vengeance against them.
The word translated to youth is a word meaning a young boy. The fact that he was with his father and carrying a sword may mean he was ten or twelve years old. While his father looked at him as nearly a man and was allowing him the honor to bring family vengeance, the boy was still just a child and fearful.
The two kings told Gideon to kill them in his strength. It would be more honorable to die at the hand of this warrior leader with a great reputation than by a child. In addition, the unskilled and weaker hand of the young boy would not likely strike in a way to kill them swiftly. Gideon honored their request and killed them.
Gideon took the crescent ornaments that were around their camels' necks. It is believed these were of the moon, consistent with archeological finds in excavations of that area and time. These items were emblematic of their royalty, but may also be connected to worship of the mood gods. Allah is the moon god and the crescent moon still decorates the mosque. The taking of these ornaments marks the end of the conflict and the end of the Midianite terror in Israel.
Judges 8:22-24
Gideon was a coward, threshing in the winepress, while people in caves, till God called him. In Gods leading, mercy and patience Gideon became a warrior. In his military escapades it seems he would have been humble and focused the leading of the Lord, knowing without Him thing would turn bad. The defeat of the Midianites would have been a great opportunity to lead the nation back to Yahweh, to worship Him and bring offerings of thanks. The proclivity of the nation never seemed to be toward Yahweh, but toward men and other gods. This should tell us something about ourselves.
Israel offered Gideon the opportunity to establish his dynasty beginning with becoming their king. Gideon rejected the offer saying Yahweh was their king. However, his actions seem inconsistent with this declaration.
Gideon took advantage of his position to request some of the gold plundered from the Midianites. There was nothing abnormal about earrings, they were common among many cultures for both men and women. The fact that they were Ishmaelites explains why they were golden. You have to wonder how much gold came from the ears of 135,000 Midianties.
Judges 8:25-27
Gideon's request seemed like a small thing in comparison to what he did and who could say he didn't deserve their gifts. This simple, and seemingly humble, request equated to fifty pounds of gold, quite a fortune! Gen 24:22 tells us an earring weighed a half shekel. If these earrings were similar, this was quite a haul.
The rest of his plunder consisted of the crescent ornaments, pendants of some kind and purple robes of royalty. By using the gold to make an ephod, Gideon appears to be setting himself up as the highest authority in the land.
An ephod was a sacred part of the high priest's garments. It covered the shoulders and chest to the waist, made with expensive fabrics and gold, bore stones representing the tribes and had a pocket to hold the Urim and Thummin. When the high priest went before the Lord, he bore the names of all the tribes, representing them before the Lord. The Urim and Thummin are an unknown; it was some method of determining the will of God. This may have been something like white and black stones; meaning yes and no. We just don't know.
Gideon's ephod was made of gold and may have incorporated the costly purple robes of the Midianite kings. It appears he was creating a copy of the high priest's ephod, in essence setting himself up as a kind of high priest, the highest authority. Yahweh was king, but Gideon set himself up as the one who would talk to the King. Gideon had made himself a replacement for using the fleece. The fleece was a sign of Gideon's weakness and lack of understanding and confidence in God. I can't imagine the ephod would be anything less.
This ephod was set up in Ophrah. It became an idol to the nation that was so prone to idolatry. The slide back to apostasy began right here. Gideon may have intended to bring prominence to his family and their city. Instead, he brought an idol that became a snare, capturing all of them in sin leading to destruction. The idol replaced God instead of honoring God. It was the right God, and maybe good intentions, but the methods were all wrong.
Judges 8:28
No foreign nation oppressed Israel for forty years. However, the presence of the ephod and it becoming a snare revealed the heart of the people. They had not learned. They did not turn to Yahweh. While they were delivered from Midian, the next round of oppression had already begun. It would come from within.
Judges 8:29-32
Forty years was enough time for the adults that hid in caves under the Midianite terror to pass away. Gideon is now called Jerubbaal, reminding us of the name his father gave him, meaning 'Baal will deal with you.' A strong ruler would often have many wives, attained through political alliances. These many wives bore many sons, strengthening a family and assure their continued reign. One of these wives was a concubine in Shechem who bore a son named Abimelech. The name means, "My father is king."
Gideon died and was buried in the family tomb.
Judges 8:33-35
The scripture make it sound as though Gideon had a stabilizing influence on the nation. In his absence, they once again played the harlot, unfaithful to the God of Israel. They ran to the Baals and particular Baal-Berith, meaning lord of the covenant. There were many Baals represented by many idols. This specific idol was a Baal they entered into a covenant with. How offensive this must have been to the Lord who covenanted with His people and they continually broke covenant. Once again apostasy became the norm in Israel.
They were once again characterized as not remembering the Lord who had delivered them from the hand of their enemies. They forgot God's provision and victory on the battlefield with Midian against fantastical odds. In addition, Gideon was forgotten. You'd like to think the people would honor the memory of the good he had done, but it was not so.
Baal could not deal with Gideon because the Lord's hand was on his life. Even with all of Gideon's flaws, fears and failures. But the next generation, relieved of suffering and short on memory, no longer cried out to the Lord. Then, the devil had his way through the use of the idols of Baal.
Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze,
And cut the bars of iron in two.
(NKJV; Psalm 107:10-16; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
Oh, what blessing it would be for men to remember the goodness of God, the kindness and deliverance from the hand of the lord. Oh, that we might remember and praise Him and tell it to the next generation.
There are some things distinctly missing from the end of Gideon's life.
- Humility, arrived at by remembrance of where he started. In fear, threshing in a winepress. His people characterized as hiding in caves. It is the Lord that delivered through him.
- Reverence, God was only mentioned once in a passing comment. He was heard from, consulted, praised or worshiped for what he did.
- Legacy, finishing well so the fallen man is not the memory but how God used him. Gideon's later years were marked by apostasy, brought on by his desire to rule and setting up the ephod.
"Failure is an invitation to have recourse to God."
?Antonin Sertillanges, French Catholic philosopher and spiritual writer.
©2006, 2010, 2016, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
Facebook