OT: The Book of Judges, Chapter 8

Judges 8:1-34

8:1 The tribe of Ephraim is furious with Gideon. They wished to be recruited into Gideon's army against the Midianites. As we know, God chose the three hundred men who comprised the army, not Gideon. 

8:2-3 In answer, Gideon employs humility. He points out to the men of Ephraim that they have each had a role to play in God's plan and moreover, Gideon considers Ephraim's role more important than his own.

Ephraim and Manessah (Gideon's tribe) are representative of Joseph and Asenath's two sons, Genesis 41. Even in the midst of deliverance by God, these tribes find time for intra-family quarrels. Although useless and potentially regressive, it is so human. Even today, we lose sight of our ultimate motives when we give attention to minor squabbles. 

Gideon communicates with Ephraim in such a way to dispel the argument so that they can each focus on the true enemy - the oppressive Midinaite army.

8:4-5 Gideon notices that the small army is exhausted. He politely requests from the leaders of Succoth some bread for his men.

8:6 The leaders of Succoth haughtily refuse. They condescend to Gideon that they are not under his authority.

8:7 Gideon releases a temper and warns that the affront will cause the leaders of Succoth to regret their actions in the future. Gideon's faith in God causes him to have complete confidence that this battle over evil is only one of others to come.

8:8-9 The men of Penuel refuse Gideon in the same way and Gideon threatens to tear down their tower.

8:10-12 Gideon attacks Zebah and Zalmunna, endures and takes victory.

8:13-17 Gideon captures and interrogates a man of Succoth. With the information he learns, he returns to the men of Succoth, remind them of their mocking... this time as the victor of a battle they never thought he would win. True to his word, he does to the men of Succoth and Penuel as he said.

8:18 Zebah and Zalmunna are asked by Gideon: what were the men like that you killed? Their description is that the victims were like Gideon, as if a son of a king. Interestingly, we are the children of The King. They, and we should too, represented Him well through confidence of faith.

8:19-20 Gideon claims the men Zebah and Zalmunna killed as brothers; Gideon tells them that if they had let those good men live, he too would have let them live. As that was not the case, Gideon tells his son Jether to kill Zebah and Zalmunna. The son is young, however, and does not follow Gideon's command.

We have known from the beginning of his story that Gideon is flawed. Yet in a time of extreme corruption, even Gideon passes as an acceptable judge.

8:21 After being taunted, Gideon kills the men himself.

8:22 The men of Israel begin to revere Gideon but Gideon is quick to stamp that down.

8:23 Gideon explains that he is not their deliverer or king, and neither is his posterity; God is their deliverer and king. After all, the purpose of this rescue is to once again teach the children of Israel that they should only follow after God and his philosophy. Their submission to human-kings has only corrupted their lifestyles.

8:24-28 Gideon collects all of the jewelry collected from the battle and makes an elaborate ephod (this translate to either a garment like an ceremonial apron or an image). Unfortunately, the children of Israel were so impressed by it that they again, began to worship the jewels rather than the God who saved them. Moreover, Gideon himself has adopted some level of vanity. He refused the title of king but begins to live as one.

8:29-32 Gideon is described here to have had many wives and seventy sons, one of them named Abimelech. Abimelech is the son of one of Gideon's mistresses. Gideon dies an an old age and is buried with his father, Joash.

8:33-35 After Gideon's death, the children of Israel completely disregard god and turn their attention back to corruption.