History · Chapter 8 of 21

Judges 8

Gideon soothes offended Ephraim, then presses on across the Jordan pursuing the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna. Refused bread by Succoth and Penuel, he captures the kings, avenges his slain brothers, and punishes the two towns. Israel begs him to rule, but he refuses, naming God as king. Yet from the gold he collects he makes an ephod that becomes a snare, and after his death Israel returns to Baal.

What happens in Judges 8

Ephraim complains angrily at not being called to battle, and Gideon defuses them with a humble answer about their greater share of the glory. Weary but relentless, he and his three hundred cross the Jordan chasing the fleeing kings. The towns of Succoth and Penuel refuse to feed his men, so he vows retribution. He surprises and captures Zebah and Zalmunna, then returns to punish the two towns as promised. Learning the kings had killed his own brothers, he executes them himself.

Grateful Israel offers Gideon a dynasty, but he refuses, declaring that the LORD shall rule. He does, however, ask for the golden earrings of the spoil and fashions an ephod, which becomes an object of idolatry ensnaring him and his house. Midian is subdued and the land rests forty years; but when Gideon dies, Israel again turns to Baal and forgets both God and Gideon's kindness.

Judges 8 in context

This chapter completes Gideon's story and quietly darkens it. The deliverer who began in humility now acts with private vengeance and vindictiveness toward fellow Israelites. His refusal of kingship rightly honors God's reign, yet the golden ephod he creates leads the nation astray, foreshadowing the idolatry and disorder that dominate the rest of Judges.

Even the best human judges are flawed and cannot secure lasting faithfulness in Israel.

Main themes of Judges 8

Judges 8 (KJV)

1And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. 2And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. 4And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 5And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. 6And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 7And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 8And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. 9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. 10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. 11And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. 13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 14And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 15And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. 18Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. 19And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks. 22Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 24And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 26And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. 27And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 28Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. 29And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. 31And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. 34And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

Verses to carry from Judges 8

“And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.”Judges 8:23

“And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”Judges 8:27

“And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:”Judges 8:34

Reflection

Gideon shows how a life that starts in humble dependence can drift toward self-will and misplaced devotion. The same hands that once held empty pitchers later gathered gold that ensnared a nation.

Endings matter as much as beginnings. What good gift in your life could quietly become a snare if it starts to hold the trust that belongs to God alone?

A prayer from Judges 8