Judges 8

King James Version

Full text for Judges Chapter 8

1¶ And 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.

4¶ And 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.

18¶ Then 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.

22¶ Then 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.

29¶ And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Gideon skillfully pacifies the complaining Ephraimites before continuing his pursuit of the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. After capturing them, he punishes the unhelpful cities of Succoth and Penuel, then executes the kings for killing his brothers. Though offered kingship, Gideon refuses, but creates an ephod from the spoils that becomes an idolatrous snare for Israel, who quickly backslides after his death.

Medium Summary

Judges 8 opens with the men of Ephraim chiding Gideon for not involving them earlier in the battle, which Gideon skillfully defuses by acknowledging their significant contribution. He then continues his pursuit of the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, with his weary three hundred men. When the cities of Succoth and Penuel refuse to provide sustenance, Gideon vows to return and punish them. After successfully ambushing and capturing the kings, Gideon fulfills his threats, punishing Succoth with thorns and briers and destroying Penuel's tower and slaying its men. He then executes Zebah and Zalmunna for slaying his brethren. The Israelites subsequently offer Gideon hereditary kingship, which he humbly refuses, declaring that the Lord alone should rule over them. However, Gideon requests golden earrings from the spoil, using them to fashion an ephod in Ophrah, which tragically becomes an object of idolatry and a snare for Israel. The land enjoys forty years of peace under Gideon's leadership, but immediately upon his death, the children of Israel turn to Baal worship, forgetting the Lord and Gideon's house.

Long Summary

The eighth chapter of Judges begins with a confrontation as the men of Ephraim sharply rebuke Gideon for not summoning them to battle against the Midianites earlier. Gideon skillfully appeases them by highlighting their superior achievement in capturing the Midianite princes, Oreb and Zeeb, effectively diffusing their anger. With his three hundred weary men, Gideon presses on across the Jordan in pursuit of the remaining Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. He requests provisions from the men of Succoth, but they refuse, questioning his authority to demand aid before the kings were captured. Gideon vows to return and punish them with thorns and briers, and receives a similar refusal from Penuel, whom he also threatens. Gideon then executes a surprise attack on the unsuspecting Midianite host at Karkor, capturing Zebah and Zalmunna and scattering their forces. Upon his return, Gideon interrogates a young man from Succoth to identify its elders. He then takes the elders of Succoth and "taught" them with thorns and briers, fulfilling his earlier threat. He also breaks down the tower of Penuel and slays its men for their insolence. Gideon confronts Zebah and Zalmunna, discovering they had killed his brothers at Tabor, which serves as a personal motive for their execution. He commands his firstborn son, Jether, to slay them, but the youth hesitates due to fear. Zebah and Zalmunna then challenge Gideon to do it himself, and Gideon complies, slaying them and taking their camel ornaments. Following this victory, the men of Israel propose that Gideon, his son, and his grandson rule over them, recognizing his deliverance. Gideon, however, firmly rejects the offer of kingship, declaring, "The LORD shall rule over you." Despite this pious refusal, Gideon requests golden earrings from the Midianite spoil, which he uses to fashion an ephod. This ephod is placed in Ophrah and becomes an object of idolatry, leading all Israel to "go a whoring after it," proving to be a snare for Gideon and his household. The land experiences forty years of peace under Gideon's leadership, and he dies in a good old age. However, immediately after Gideon's death, the children of Israel revert to worshipping Baalim and Baal-berith, forgetting the Lord their God and showing ingratitude to Gideon's family.

Core Concepts

  • Ephraim's JealousyThe tribe of Ephraim, known for its pride, expresses sharp contention with Gideon for not involving them from the outset of the Midianite conflict, despite their later success.
  • Retribution for DisloyaltyGideon demonstrates severe justice against the Israelite cities of Succoth and Penuel, who refused aid to his weary army, fulfilling his threats by punishing their elders and destroying their tower.
  • Refusal of KingshipGideon rejects the people's offer of hereditary rule, asserting that "the LORD shall rule over you," thereby upholding God's sovereignty over Israel.
  • The Ephod as a SnareGideon creates a golden ephod from the Midianite spoils, which, though perhaps intended for worship, becomes an object of idolatry for all Israel, leading them astray from God.
  • Israel's ApostasyImmediately following Gideon's death, the children of Israel quickly abandon the Lord, turning to the worship of Baalim and Baal-berith, demonstrating their persistent spiritual unfaithfulness.
  • Divine VengeanceGideon's execution of Zebah and Zalmunna is presented not only as the culmination of the Midianite defeat but also as personal vengeance for the slaying of his own brothers at Tabor.