VIII. 1-3. Gideon’s soft answer to the Ephraimites. Judges 8:4. Unfaithfulness of Succoth. Judges 8:6. And of Penuel. Judges 8:10. Victory over Zebah and Zalmunna. Judges 8:13. Gideon punishes Succoth and Penuel. Judges 8:18. He puts Zebah and Zalmunna to death. Judges 8:22. The Israelites offer him... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN OF EPHRAIM. — The arrogance of this tribe was derived partly from its strength, and partly from the memories of their ancestor Joseph; from the double portion which Joseph had received in memorial of his pre-eminence; from the fact that Jacob, in his blessing, had preferred the younger Ephra... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAVE I DONE NOW IN COMPARISON OF YOU? — Since Gideon was by no means a man of very placable and pacific disposition, we see the strong and noble self-control which this answer manifests. He was not in a condition, even had he wished it, to humble the fierce jealousy of this kindred tribe, as th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEIR ANGER WAS ABATED TOWARDS HIM. — The soft answer turned away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). The word for anger is _mach,_ “wind,” or “spirit” — anger expressed by fierce breathing through the nostrils, “the _blast_ of the terrible ones” (Isaiah 25:4). (Comp. Ecclesiastes 10:4 : “If the spirit (_ru... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GIDEON CAME TO JORDAN. — This verse resumes the narrative of Judges 7:23. The intermediate verses are an episode, and they are only here introduced by anticipation, in order to close the notice about the tribe of Ephraim. AND PASSED OVER. — Literally, _passing over;_ but the English Version is... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE MEN OF SUCCOTH. — The name Succoth means “booths,” and the place was so named, or re-named, because of the “booths” which had been erected there by Jacob on his return from Padanaram (Genesis 33:17; Joshua 13:27). It was situated in the tribe of Gad, and is probably the _Sukkot_ mentioned b... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE THE HANDS OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA NOW IN THINE HAND? — Literally, _Is the fist_ (_caph_)_ of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand_ (_yad_)_?_ The general meaning, of course, is clear: “Are you so completely victor as to secure us from the vengeance of these kings?” (Comp. 1 Kings 20:11.) But what th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GIDEON SAID. — Notice in this verse the mixture of heroic faith and barbarous severity. It was this courage and faith (Hebrews 11:32) which ennobled Gideon and made him an example for all time. The ruthlessness of the punishment which he threatened to inflict belongs to the wild times in which h... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT UP THENCE TO PENUEL. — Penuel was also in the tribe of Gad, on the heights above the Jordan valley, on the southern bank of the Jabbok. The name means “face of God,” from Jacob’s vision (Genesis 32:30). It is again mentioned as a fortified town in 1 Kings 12:25, but the site has not been ide... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I COME AGAIN IN PEACE. — Comp. 1 Kings 22:27. I WILL BREAK DOWN THIS TOWER. — If the strength of their citadel emboldened them to refuse food to Gideon’s fainting warriors, it would also have helped to protect them against the dreaded vengeance of Midian.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN KARKOR. — This was the scene of the third battle, or massacre. When they had reached this distant point they probably felt secure. _Karkor_ means, “a safe enclosure,” and the Vulg., regarding it as an ordinary noun, renders it, “where Zebah and Zalmunna were resting.” Eusebius and Jerome identify... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WAY OF THEM THAT DWELT IN TENTS. — He seems to have taken a wide circuit, through some nomad district, leaving the main road, which runs through Nobah and Jogbehah, so as once more to make up for his inferior numbers (for there were still 15,000 left of these children of the East) by surprise... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA FLED. — In Psalms 83:13, we, perhaps, find a reminiscence of the precipitancy of their flight, “like a wheel,” _i.e.,_ like a winged, rolling seed, and like stubble before a hurricane, and like a conflagration leaping through a mountain forest. (_Dict. of Bible,_ s. v. _Oreb;... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE SUN WAS UP. — If the rendering were certain, it would prove that he had made a night attack on Karkor; but it seems more probable that the words should be rendered “from the ascent of Heres,” or “of Hechares,” as in the LXX., Peshito, and Arabic. If so, it implies that he came round by so... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUGHT A YOUNG MAN. — Comp. Judges 1:24. DESCRIBED. — Marg. _writ, i.e.:_ the boy wrote down their names (LXX., _apegrapsato;_ Vulg., _descripsit_). THREESCORE AND SEVENTEEN. — Perhaps a sort of local Sanhedrin of Seventy (Numbers 11:16), with their presiding sheykhs. The number shows that Succoth... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT ARE WEARY. — The addition of these words enhances the guilt of these elders, though the exhaustion of Gideon’s force may have seemed to them a reason for alarm, lest their pursuit should end in rout.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TAUGHT. — Literally, _made to know_ (Proverbs 10:9); but דע may be a misreading for ישׂ “he threshed,” as in Judges 6:7. (Vulg. _contrivit atque comminuit._) THE MEN OF SUCCOTH. — _i.e.,_ the elders. Gideon would be well aware that in an Oriental city the mass of the people have no voice in any... [ Continue Reading ]
BEAT DOWN THE TOWER. — The importance of the place led to its re-fortification by Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID HE UNTO ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA. — They had been kept alive in order to answer the cowardly taunt of the elders of Succoth. There is nothing to show whether they were put to death at Succoth, as Josephus says, or taken to Ophrah (_Antt. iv._ 7, § 5). Perhaps Gideon reserved their death for the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS OF MY MOTHER. — Comp. Genesis 43:29. AS THE LORD LIVETH. — Ruth 3:13; 1 Samuel 14:41. (Comp. _Æn._ xii. 949.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO JETHER. — By the _jus talionis._ as well as by every other consideration of that time, Gideon, as the last survivor of all his kingly brothers, would hold himself justified in putting his captives to death. Jether also would inherit the duties of goel (Numbers 35:12; 2 Samuel 2:22,... [ Continue Reading ]
RISE THOU, AND FALL UPON US. — They deprecated the pain and shame of falling by the irresolute hands of a boy. FOR AS THE MAN... HIS STRENGTH. — Deuteronomy 33:25. “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” ORNAMENTS. — _Saharonim,_ “little moons,” crescent-shaped ornaments of gold and silver, still... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE MEN OF ISRAEL. — Here begins the third great phase of the life of Gideon. which was characterised by his noblest act — the refusal of the kingdom — and his most questionable act — the setting up of a schismatic worship. RULE THOU OVER US. — The energy and success of Gideon had shown them t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHALL RULE OVER YOU. — Numbers 23:21; Deuteronomy 33:5; 1 Samuel 6:12. Gideon refused the splendid temptation of an hereditary crown, though, in strict accordance with Divine guidance, he was willing to be their judge (_Shaphat,_ as in Judges 10:2; Judges 12:7, &c.). Cassel compares the rem... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD DESIRE A REQUEST OF YOU. — Not unfrequently the magnanimity which has just stood firm under a great trial succumbs to a weaker one. His case did not exactly resemble that of Abraham (Genesis 14:21), but it would have been better for his glory if he had acted in a similar spirit. THE EARRINGS... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WILL WILLINGLY GIVE. — Literally, _giving, we will give._ THEY SPREAD. — Perhaps the true reading should be “_he_ spread,” as in the LXX. (_aneptuxe_). A GARMENT. — Perhaps his own upper garment (_Simlah_)_,_ or “a large general’s cloke” (Ewald, _Gesch._ ii. 506).... [ Continue Reading ]
A THOUSAND AND SEVEN HUNDRED SHEKELS OF GOLD. — About seventy pounds of gold. This would imply a very large number of nose-rings or earrings (Genesis 24:22), and therefore a slaughter of many leading Midianites. It is analogous to the “three bushels of knights’ rings” which Mago carried to Carthage,... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE AN EPHOD. — The high priest’s ephod is described in Exodus 28:6. It was a sleeveless coat of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with two ouches of onyx on the shoulders, bound by a rich girdle. Over this was worn the splendid jewelled breastplate, the _choshen,_ with the Urim a... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS WAS MIDIAN SUBDUED. — This verse closes the second great epoch of Gideon’s life. The separate phrases occur in Judges 1:2; Judges 4:23; Judges 5:31. The remaining verses of the chapter furnish us with a few notices of the third and last period of his life.... [ Continue Reading ]
JERUBBAAL. — The sudden reversion to this name may be significant. Baal had failed to “plead,” but nevertheless Gideon was not safe from idolatrous tendencies.... [ Continue Reading ]
THREESCORE AND TEN SONS. — According to Oriental fashion, no account is taken of his daughters. HE HAD MANY WIVES. — It is clear that Gideon was a king in all but name. This is the most magnificent, but the least honourable, period of his career. In Deuteronomy 17:17 it had been said of the future... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CONCUBINE THAT WAS IN SHECHEM. — In Judges 9:18 she is contemptuously called his “maid servant.” The sequel (Judges 9:1) seems to show that she belonged to the Canaanite population of Shechem. If so, Gideon’s conduct in making her a concubine was as much against the Mosaic law as that of Solomon... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GIDEON... DIED. — Gideon died in peace and prosperity (Genesis 15:15; Genesis 49:29, &c), in a good old age (Job 5:26), but the evil seed which he had sown bore bitter fruit in the next generation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Turned again. — _Ad vomitum recdierunt_ (Serarius) (Psalms 106:13; Psalms 106:21). WENT A WHORING AFTER BAALIM. — It was shown again afterwards, in the reign of Ahab, how rapidly unauthorised symbols degenerate into positive idolatry. After all that had occurred it would have been impossible for a... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBERED NOT THE LORD THEIR GOD. — According to Judges 9:46, they looked on Baal as their _Elohim,_ and forgot that Jehovah was the one God. There was always this tendency to syncretism, as a half-way step towards idolatry. Zephaniah (Judges 1:5) mentions them “that swear by the Lord, and that swe... [ Continue Reading ]
JERUBBAAL, NAMELY, GIDEON. — It is doubtful whether we should not join the two names (Jerubbaal-Gideon), as in the Vulgate. Both names may be here allusive. He had been the “hewer” of their enemies and a “pleader against Baal,” yet they were ungrateful to him, and apostatised to Baal-worship. ACCOR... [ Continue Reading ]