Judges 8:22,23

Israel tried to set up Gideon and his descendants after him as king over them. Gideon's answer is significant. "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you." Had they have listened to their leader more closely and heeded his words, many problems would have been avoided. Unfortunately, he did ask for and receive the earrings they had taken as spoil from the Midianites. With them he made an idol to worship and caused Israel to sin in worshiping false gods. For forty years the land had rest and Gideon died at a good old age. He had seventy sons of his wives and concubines, including Abimelech. Following Gideon's death, Israel again worshipped Baal. "Thus the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side" (Ruth 8:22-33).